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i  l  li  I      1    I 


THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS 

\ 

* 

BY 

ALEXANDER    DUMAS. 


Author  of  "  The  Count  of  Monte  Cristo,"  "  The  Three 
Guardsmen,"  "  Twenty  Years  After,"  Etc. 


CHICAGO: 
A.  DONOHUE  &  COMPANY, 

4*7-429  Dearborn  Street. 


SRLE 
URL 


THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS: 


OR, 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAMIS. 


CHAPTER  L 

LIKE  FATHER,  LIKE  SON. 

THE  July  sun  was  flooding  with  light  the  calm  and  radiant 
landscape  offered  by  the  banks  of  the  River  Loire,  neal 
Saumur,  in  the  middle  of  the  Year  of  Grace,  1678. 

The  stage-coach  running  from  Nantes  to  Paris  was  on  tho 
sandy  unpleasant  road,  drawn  by  six  stout  horses,  but  when 
the  highway  rose  to  cross  a  ridge,  as  now,  they  were  none 
too  strong  to  overcome  the  difficulty,  though  lightened  of 
the  passengers  ;  these  had  to  walk  up  in  tiie  midst  of  the 
keat  and  dust. 

At  least,  the  male  passengers  trudged  on,  while  the  lauy 
inside  slumbered.  The  five  men  were,  a  Nantes  scrivener, 
a  ship-outfitter,  two  sardine  merchants  of  Croisic,  and  a 
young  gallant,  half-gentleman-farmer,  half-squire  of  some 
degree,  who  hailed  from  the  parish  of  Locmaria,  in  Belle-Isle- 
in-the-sea,  of  lasting  memory  from  the  .  siege  which  we  have 
chronicled  in  our  pages  entitled  •  "  The  Man  in  the  Iro» 
Mask." 

Of  he  country  squire  he  boasted  the  free  carriage,  slightly 
swaggering  perhaps,  the  sunburnt  complexion,  the  longhair 
coming  down  upon  the  shoulders,  and  the  characteristic  ail 
•£  the  rustics  of  that  part  of  Brittany,  namely,  a  medley  of  tht 


4  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

simple  and  the  astute,  the  timid  and  the  tenacious.  He  wore 
the  picturesque  costume  of  these  peasants,  the  white  wool 
breeches  cut  full,  the  leather  leg-boots  embroidered  with  silk, 
the  flower-patterned  waistcoat,  the  braided  vest,  and  the 
wide-brimmed  felt  hat  encircled  by  a  velvet  ribbon,  and 
plumed  with  a  peacock's  feather.  Of  the  country  nobility, 
he  ofttimes  assumed  the  proud  and  haughty  carriage  of  the 
1  head,  the  curt  and  imperious  voice,  a  sort  of  natural  lofti- 
ness in  the  gestures,  courtesy  in  the  speech  and  elegance  in 
the  manners.  Add  likewise,  as  the  nobleman's  insignia,  a 
rapier  at  his  side  which  would  have  appeared  of  exaggerated 
size  and  length  for  a  stripling,  if  he  had  not  been  gifted  with 
a  stature  above  the  common,  with  limbs  which  testified  to 
muscular  strength  and  agility. 

The  view  was  splendid  from  the  crest,  from  the  bright 
hamlets  under  the  eye  to  the  red  roofs  of  Saumur  and  its 
white  citadel  ;  but  the  travelers  had  something  else  to  do 
than  admire  scenery.  The  petti-fogger  perspired  at  every 
pore,  as  he  had  wrung  debtors  into  doing  ;  the  Paimboeut 
ship-outfitter  panted  and  the  sardine-merchants  grumbled. 
Still  they  gasped  a  few  words  about  the  market  price  of  pro- 
duce, the  taxes,  the  good  and  the  bad  weather  as  they  would 
affect  the  crops,  and  the  disgrace  of  the  Financial  Superin- 
tendent Fouquet.  Granted  that  the  fall  of  this  treasurer  had 
taken  place  some  time  back,  you  cannot  be  hard  on  -he 
rustics  for  not  being  versed  in  the  latest  court  news.  The 
young  blade  from  Belle-Isle  slily  peeped  at  the  lady-passen* 
ger  as  she  napped. 

All  of  a  sudden  the  jolting  of  the  vehicle  made  her  start 
as  to  awaken,  and  in  fear  of  being  caught  staring  at  her,  the 
gazer  rapidly  turned  his  eyes  aloof,  and  mechanically  began 
to  study  the  road.  No  sooner  had  he  done  so  than  he 
stopped  short  and  hailed  the  guard  of  the  coach  who  wa* 
also  the  driver,  walking  beside  his  horses  r 

"Ho,  ho  !  what  do  you  call  that  lot,  my  Master  ?" 

He  pointed  to  a  squad  or  five  or  six  horsemen,  just  looming 
up  on  a  peak  of  the  road,  their  profiles  detached  on  the 
clear  sky-line  with  the  sharpness  of  shapes  in  a  shadow- 
pantomime.  Four  of  these  cavaliers  carried  their  mus- 
ketoons  resting  for  immediate  use  on  the  knee.  The  fifth 
in  advance  of  the  rest,  appearing  to  be  the  leader,  carried 
no  gun  ;  but  the  sun  sparkled  on  the  pistol  pummels  sticking 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM1S.  5 

out  of  his  holsters,  and  of  the  long  sword  slapping  ag.iinst  his 
thigh.     Altogether,  this  was  a  little  troop  far  from  encour 
aging  in  a  period    when  the   main  roads  belonged  to  the 
boldest  highwaymen 

Master  Vincent  Paquedrus  the  coach  driver,  had  a  flat 
face,  meaningless  look  and  feeble  smile  ;  his  cunning  was 
masked  under  a  thick  coat  of  pretended  innocence.  These 
rogues  out-do  any  of  their  race  elsewhere  in  knavery. 

"That  ?  that  is  a  patrol  of  the  Royal  Marauders,''  he  an- 
swered tranquilly  to  the  question  addressed  him. 

"Royal  Marauders  ?"  repeated  the  questioner,  frowning 
"a  singular  title,  but  no  doubt  a  nickname  ;  for  I  do  not  want 
to  think,  Master  Paquedru,  that  you  intend  to  play  tricks 
on  me  ?" 

While  thus  speaking  the  stalwart  youth  laid  his  hand  on 
the  shrewd  Norman's  shoulder, — only  laid  it,  but  its  weight 
was  such  that  the  knight  of  the  whip  cowered  as  though  he 
was  overburdened. 

"  Heaven  forbid,  my  gentleman,"  he  replied,  in  haste, 
with  an  obsequious  and  wary  air  ;  "for  it  is  the  real  truth — 
I  never  tell  a  lie,  on  my  faith!  that  is  how  that  regiment  is 
christened  in  these  parts." 

"  A  regiment  in  the  King's  service  so  misnamed  ?" 

"Forsooth,  I  am  ignorant  of  that,  my  good  sir,"  returned 
the  driver,  taking  his  most  stupid  aspect;  "but  it  is  certain, 
1  swear  it  with  my  hand  on  my  heart,  that  it  has  been  out  on 
the  campaign,  ever  so  long." 

"Out  on  the  campaign  ?  against  whom,  pray?  as  far  as  I 
know,  for  the  moment,  the  province  of  Anjou  is  not  in  arms 
against  the  King's  authority— — However,  '*  added  the 
young  gallant,  glancing  at  his  traveling  companions  who  had 
drawn  near  during  this  colloquy  and  listened  to  it  with  vague 
disquiet,  "  we  have  nought  to  fear,  for  they  ate  just  our 
number — five — and  the  game  is  even." 

There  rose  general  dissent,  and  the  notary  exclaimed: 
"But  we  have  no  firearms!" 

"Besides,'*  said  the  sardine  merchants,  "it  is  not  our  trade 
to  bandy  hard  knocks!"  To  which  his  brother  dealer  added: 
"We  are  respectable  merchants  who  shun  stripes  and  blow? 
Kke  the  plague," 

"For  my  part,  "  continued  the  ship-outfitter,  "  1  wouH 
not  hesitate  to  send  all  m,v  seamen  and  office-clerks  into  ba/ 


6  THE  SON  Of  PORTHOS;  OR, 

tie  Jo  be  slain  to  the  last  man — but,  unluckily,  they  are 
either  on  my  ships  at  sea  or  in  my  offices  in  Paimboeuf." 

"  But,  say,  Master  Paquedru,"  asked  the  notary,  *'do 
you  know  that  martial  cohort  ?" 

"  I  know  them  without  pushing  the  acquaintance " 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  you  have  met  them  before  ?" 
"On,  often,  very  often,"  was  the  Norman's  reply,  with  a 
smile  of  bad  omen,  "  in  fact,  as  often  as  I  pulled  through 
this  spot.0 

"In  that  case,  how  will  they  act  towards  us  ?" 
"Never  mind,"  interrupted  he  young  gentleman,  "we 
shall  not  be  long  learning,  for  here  they  come  at  a  gallop." 
Indeed,  the  little  squadron  had  clapped  spurs  to  their 
horses,  so  that  they  came  up  rapidly.  Wnen  arrived  within 
gunshot,  they  reined  in,  so  stopped  by  a  sign  of  tneir  com- 
mander, who  approached  at  a  walking  pace.  His  follower 
drew  up  in  a  line  across  the  way,  to  block  it.  Of  these  four, 
not  one  owned  a  visage  that  did  not  have  Robber  branded 
on  it  legibly.  All  the  tanned  cheeks  wore  rakisu  moustaches, 
and  impudent  gaze  stared  out  under  unkempt  locks  ;  scar* 
ornamented  the  whole.  But  what  equipments,  costumes  and 
steeds !  The  last  as  meagre  as  the  lean  kine  of  Scripture;  the 
bats  dented,  tattered  and  worn;  the  bullhide  breastplates  rot- 
ten and  cracked,  the  breeches  oddly  patched,  and  the  boots 
showing  the  riders'  toes.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  each  car- 
ried an  arsenal  of  weapons. 

The  captain  was  a  trifle  less  forlorn  and  threadbare. 
Some  threads  had  come  out  in  his  lace  ruffles;  only  slightly 
faded  were  his  doublet's  purple  velvet  and  his  flame-colored 
shoulderknot  of  ribbon;  and  his  Spanish  boots  were  not 
dilapidated  all  over.  Still  his  plumed  beaver  was  spruced 
up  with  a  new  ribbon  and  was  cocked  properly  over  one  ear; 
his  rapier  hilt  was  polished  enough  to  shine  brightly  ;  and 
his  show  of  fashion  had  a  touchy  arrogance  to  impose  up  to 
a  degree  upon  the  novice  and  the  timid.  He  would  have  in- 
spired but  scant  confidence  jn  the  clear-sighted.  His  bird- 
of-prey  beak  bent  over  a  pair  of  braggadocio's  moustache* 
curled  up  into  hooks  at  the  ends,  and  turning  grey  ;  under 
them  his  lips  wer2  enlivened  by  an  expression  of  vulgar  cyn- 
icism. In  his  brown-encircled  eyes,  half-veiled  by  the  bloated, 
drooping  lids,  gleamed  all  the  yellow  reflections  of  the  Sevei 
Deadly  Sins. 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  J 

As  he  accosted  the  coach  passengers,  this  character  took  oft 
his  hat  with  a  grand  sweep,  slow  and  measured,  as  he  uttered 
with  an  exaggerated  affectation  of  politeness,  "Gentlemen,  1 
prithee  to  consider  in  me  the  most  humble,  obedient  and  de« 
voted  o?  your  servants." 

"Oh,  sir,  we  are  yours,"  said  the  scrivener,  acting  as  spokes* 
man  for  his  companions,  all  trembling  like  the  aspen  leaf. 

"Since  nobody  takes  it  upon  him  to  present  me,  allow 
»e  to  do  it  myself — "  here  he  bowed.  "You  see  the  Chev- 
alier Condor  de  Cordbuff,  Colonel  in  his  Majesty's  service 
— when  I  say,  Colonel,  it  is  just  a  manner  of  speaking,  for 
the  grade  is  of  no  consequence  at  present,  and  between  our- 
selves, the  army  is  sp  badly  organized  that  I  hardly  know 
whether  I  am  captain  or  colonel,  and  my  regiment — ahem  1 
company  would  sound  better — is  composed  for  the  time  being 
of  the  four  paladins  whom  you  see  yonder  behind  me:  namely, 
Lock-breaker,  my  lieutenant,  Plucker,  my  cornet,  Pillager, 
my  orderly,  and  Pickpurse,  my  trumpeter " 

These  characteristic  names  caused  the  pettifogger  to  quiv- 
er still  more,  the  shipping-merchant  to  turn  frightfully 
pale,  and  the  sardine-dealers  to  glance  with  despair  on  one 
another,  while  the  cavalier  proceeded: 

''But  I  am  going  to  fill  up  my  muster-list,  and  I  have  the 
recruits.  Nothing  but  the  equipments  is  lacking,  which  is 
the  reason  that  1  have  solicited  and  obtained  from  the  Pro- 
vost of  Saumur  the  duty  of  escorting  and  guarding  honest 
gentry  traveling  through  the  country " 

"What,"  exclaimed  the  ship-fitter ;  "  Do  you  mean  that 
you  come  only  to " 

"To  see  you  safe  into  the  town,  and  defend  you  at  need 
from  all  vexations,  criminal  exactions  or  guilty  enterprises 
aimed  at  your  life  or  your  money-bags " 

A  sigh  of  relief  issued  from  every  breast. 

'"And  ail  for  a  pitiful  remuneration/'  continued  the  ora- 
tor. 

"Eh,  eh  ?  what  now  ?" 

''The  figure  being  left  to  your  kind  estimate— -provided, 
•ince  I  must  confine  the  generosity  of  my  patrons  within  the 
bounds  of  sound  sense,  that  each  offers  according  to  his  mien, 
and  his  means " 

"Alas  !" 

Astonishment,  revulsion  and  terror  had  swiftly  succeeded 


8  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR. 

each  other  in  the  hearers'  minds.  One  of  the  sardine* 
dealers,  however,  tried  to  give  a  proof  of  heroism. 

"Not  so  fast,"  said  he,  roughening  his  voice,  "suppose  we 
do  not  want  any  escort  and  guard  '* 

"Right,'*  continued  his  colleague,  like  his  echo,  "suppose 
we  do  not  yearn  for  the  honor  of  buying  your  company  ?'* 

"In  that  case,"  replied  Cordbuff,  "I  no  longer.am  respon- 
sible for  your  precious  persons,  and  that  will  be  a  bad  look- 
out, as  there  are  any  quantity  of  scamps  in  these  parts,"  he 
said  with  imperturbable  gravity,  and  with  emphasis,  ''scamps 
whose  arms  are  longer  than  their  scruples,  and  who,  in  so 
lonesome  a  spot  as  this,  would  shoot  me  off-hand  a  pack  of 
traders  of  your  kind  as  clean  as  a  bevy  of  partridges  -  " 

He  made  a  sign  to  his  gang,  and  their  musketoons  were 
heard  going  —  clicketty  clack  !  on  full  cock. 

The  notary  all  but  fainted  ;  the  ship-merchant  wiped  the 
abundant  perspiration  off  his  nose  with  his  sleeve,  and 
the  two  sardine-dealers  offered  blessed  tapers  to  their 
patron  saints  if  they  should  be  extricated  from  this  hornets' 
nest. 

The  Colonel  of  the  Royal  Marauders  turned  to  the  coach- 
driver,  saying  :  "Look  sharp  !  Vincent,  out  with  your  way- 
bill, and  read  me  out  the  names  and  descriptions  of  your 
passengers." 

The  driver  had  the  paper  already  in  his  hand  and  he  at 
once  began  to  read  : 

"Master  Libiniou,  notary  royal,  of  Nantes        " 

"Good  !"  said  Condor,  with  an  amiable  smirk,  "men  of 
the  gown  and  men  of  the  sword  are  both  specially  kingV 
men.  I  wager  that  you  are  only  too  happy  for  the  chance 
to  contribute  a  hundred  pistoles  for  the  harness  of  my  heroes. 
Besides,  as  a  keepsake  of  this  happy  meeting,  I  will  make  no 
bones  over  accepting  that  watch  which  I  see  rounding  out 
your  fob.  Mine  was  stolen  lately,  in  the  parlors  of  the 
Comptroller-general,  in  Paris  —  M.  Colbert  receives  sadly 
mixed  company,  as  I  have  had  the  favor  to  tell  him  plumply.** 

He  tossed  his  hat,  crown  down,  into  the  road,  and  con- 
cluded : 

"There  you  see  the  cashier's  till  ?  Walk  up,  gentlemen, 
and  settle.  My  dear  notary,  have  the  honor  to  lead  the 


With  manv  a  moan  the  scrivener  did  as  he  was  expected. 


THE  DEATH  OF  A R AMIS.  g 

*'Simon  Prieur,  ship-outfitter,  of  Paimboeuf,"  continued 
the  driver. 

"One  hundred  pistoles  likewise.  I  am  not  going  to  in- 
suit  a  respectable  trader  by  valueing  him  under  a  knight  of 
the  quill.  To  which  sum,  my  honored  Prieur  will  please  add 
the  pair  of  silver  buckles  shining  so  bravely  on  his  shoes. 
My  noble  father,  Hilarion  de  Cordbuff,  always  longed  to  see 
his  dear  boy  in  silver  buckles,  and  the  wish  of  a  father  is 
law  to  a  son " 

"Yves  Guerinec  and  Pierre  Trogoff,  sardine-merchants, 
of  Croisic " 

"Fifty  pistoles  each,  the  catch  of  fish  being  first-rate  this 
season — not  forgetting  the  gold  earrings  which  you  flash,  and 
which  I  shall  offer  to  my  sisters.  I  hope  the  gentlemen  will 
not  cpmpel  me  to  take  them  out  myself,  as  I  am  rather  heavy 
handed  and  I  am  really  afraid  that  I  should  clip  a  bit  of  the 
ear  along  with  the  trinkets."  As  he  spoke  he  toyed  with  a 
dagger  at  his  girdle. 

"The  two  merchants  and  the  naval  outfitter  hastened  to 
imitate  the  notary,  but  with  all  kinds  of  grumblingsr  com- 
plaining and  curses,  while  the  Jehu  pursued  : 

"Squire  Joel,  of  Locmaria " 

"A  squire  ?  which  is  he  ?"  inquired  the  robber,  from  the 
height  of  his  saddle. 

"  I  am  he,"  responded  the  youth  who  wore  the  Breton  cos- 
tume. 

We  have  already  stated  that  Joel  was  a  promising  scion, 
having  limbs  admirably  proportioned  to  his  exceptional 
stature  in  their  supple  and  muscular  robustness.  Imagine 
Hercules  or  Samson  as  a  boy.  Still  his  countenance  did  not 
yet  reveal  the  budding  athlete,  capable  of  strangling  hydras  or 
carrying  away  town  gates.  The  abundant  curls  enframed 
fine  and  regular  features,  a  little  browned  by  the  sun  and  the 
gale  ;  his  large  blue  eyes,  inclined  to  deep  grey,  had  a  kind- 
ly gaze,  where  frankness  and  just  dealing  were  to  be  read  as 
in  an  open  book,  and  around  his  lips,  over  which  darkened 
a  coming  moustache  as  light  in  hue  as  his  plentiful  locks,  a 
boyish  smile  now  was  sparkling  with  mirth,  then  shaded  with 
thoughtfulness. 

During  the  preceding  scene,  he  had  leaned  against  one  of 
the  wheels,  motionless  but  attentive  and  astonished — the 
coach  having  come  to  a  rest,  of  course,  since  the  highway- 
nan's  intervention* 


io  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR. 

"By  the  pride  of  Lucifer,"  exclaimed  the  latter,  after  hav 
ing  examined  him,  where  we  have  a  young  chanticleer, 
haughtily  set  on  his  spurs  !  and  if  the  whim  takes  him  to 
swell  the  ranks  of  my  company,  deuce  seize  me  but  I  would 
make  a  cornet  aide-de-camp  of  him.  What  do  you  say  to 
that,  comrade  ?  t)o  you  not  understand  me,  eh  ?"  he  added 
as  the  hearer  remained  silent. 

"Yes,  I  do." 

"And  vou  accept  ?" 

"I  refuse,  because  I  have  no  wish  to  die  in  the  hangman':, 
halter." 

"The  lad  has  a  turn  for  wit,"  growled  Cordbuff,  gnawing 
his  moustaches,  "and  I  doat  on  merry  fellows.  So  I  allow 
you  fire  minutes  to  make  up  your  mind " 

"To  what,  pray  ?"  asked  the  other  tranquilly. 

"To  take  service  under  my  colors,  or  to  count  me  down 
'smart  money'  as  recompense  for  losing  a  recruit  so  stout 
in  make  and  so  jolly  in  spirit.  Well,  have  you  any  more  on 
your  bill  ?"  he  went  on  to  the  driver. 

"Colonel,  we  have  the  Lady  Aurore  du  Tremblay." 

"Humph,  some  old  dowager,  I  suppose.  She  must  be 
rather  old  if  she  belongs  to  the  family  that  once  supplied  a 
governor  to  the  Bastille  Prison.  And  where  is  the  respected 
Demoiselle  du  Tremblay  ?" 

"Am  I  wanted  ?"  returned  a  sweet  and  yet  ringing  voice, 

The  girl  opened  the  coach  door  and  nimbly  leaped  out 
upon  the  sandy  roadside. 

She  did  not  appear  to  be  more  than  twenty.  Her  strong 
though  willowy  figure  seemed  shaped  to  do  honor  to  tho 
most  sumptuous  court  costumes,  although  she  was  now  wear- 
ing a  dress  of  mourning  and  for  the  journey. 

Over  her  stainless  brow,  a  thick  mass  of  dark  chestnut 
hair  formed  a  kind  of  crown,  in  which  faint  flickers  of  golden 
radiance  played.  Her  eyes  were  of  opaque  crystal,  but  from 
time  to  time,  they  were  lit  by  penetrating  lustre.  The  smile  of 
lips  so  beautiful  agitated  the  heart.  She  walked  with  an  even 
step,  with  no  evidence  of  fear  or  weakness,  to  Cordbuff 's  beaver, 
nearly  filled  with  the  contributions  of  her  fellow-travelers. 

"Here,  sir,  is  the  ransom  you  are  waiting  for,"  she  ob 
served  coldly. 

"Excuse  me,  noble  damsel,"  said  Condor,  perking  himself 
in  the  saddle,  "  But  I  had  not  seen  what  you  were  like. 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  n 

Otherwise,  you  should  have  taken  the  lead  over  these  gentry 
Hang  it  all,  where  would  we  be,  if  we  did  not  grant  the  sex, 
and  rank  and  beauty,  some  privileges  ?" 

The  young  lady  extended  her  arm  with  a  queenly  gesture 
and  let  a  purse  drop  into  the  hat,  saying  : 

"This  is  half  what  I  was  carrying  to  town,  and  this  other 
portion  does  not  belong  to  me,  but  to  two  orphans,  for  whose 
cause  I  am  going  there  to  contest  with  the  relatives  and  en- 
treat the  judges'  favor.  I  venture  to  hope  that  you  will  not 
show  yourself  more  greedy  than  the  former  and  more  hostile 
than  thj  latter."  All  this  was  spoken  with  tranquil  dig- 
nity, not  devoid  of  marked  haughtiness. 

<5On  my  soul,  my  fair  pleader,"  returned  the  colonel,  twist- 
ing up  the  points  of  his  moustaches  between  finger  and  thumb 
and  speaking  with  mocking  gallantry,  ''the  cross  kinsfolk  are 
overcome  and  the  judges  won  beforehand  by  the  might  of 
your  attractions——" 

"Sir  !" 

'Whence  I  draw  the  conclusion  that  your  orphans  have  no 
longer  need  of  the  sum  of  which  you  expressed  the  wish  not 
to  be  deprived,  and  to  boot — you  have  no  farther  need  your- 
self of  the  diamond  sparkling  on  your  dainty  finger  to  please 
and  capture " 

"I  am  at  a  loss  to  understand " 

"Yet  it  is  clear  :  the  ring  sparkling  on  your  white  hand, 
will  marvellously  suit  that  of  the  dame  of  my  love.  You 
tannot  think  to  keep  me  from  it,  any  more  than  from  the 
second  half  of  the  sum  of  which  you  have  dedicated  one 
tnoiety  to  my  honorable  necessity " 

Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  lifted  to  the  bandit  captain  a  look  full 
of  apprehension. 

"What,  do  you  contemplate  despoiling  me  of  this  jewel,  and 
the  few  gold  pieces  left  me *' 

"Lord  love  you  !  thank  me  for  being  so  moderate.  Some 
gentlemen-riders  of  the  King's  highway  would  require  much 
beside." 

Aurore  clasped  her  hands. 

'Sir,  sir,  I  repeat  to  you.  I  have  yielded  up  all  my  own 
property — and  this  money  which  you  claim  is  the  lawful  share 
of  the  heirs,  the  sole  means  of  the  two  young  persons  whom 

I  represent " 

So  long  as  the  lady  had  shown  a  firm  front  and  some 


12  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR. 

haughtiness,  the  brigand  had  pretended  courtesy  :  but  ht 
became  bolder  and  more  insolent  as  she  turned  suppliant  and 
agitated. 

"Come,  come,'*  sneered  he  ;  "these  children  will  not  be 
at  a  loss  with  an  advocate  having  such  charms  and  bright- 
ness of  wit.  Particularly,  as  you  will  not  fail  to  find  in  Paris 
many  rich  and  generous  friends " 

The  lady  did  not  feel  the  drift  of  this  ironical  speech,  and 
implored  as  she  saw  the  eyes  of  the  scoundrel  greedily  fixed 
on  the  precious  stone  on  her  finger: 

"  But  this  gem  has  not  the  value  which  you  fancy — it  has 
no  value  indeed  save  to  me  as  a  keepsake " 

"Of  some  gallant  cavalier,  eh?  Of  course  it  is  a  token  of 
love.  But,  dash  it  all  !  you  will  have  no  difficulty  in  finding 
another  to  make  a  finer  present." 

The  girl  drew  herself  up  to  her  full  height  and,  as  her 
cheek  was  empurpled  with  ire  and  her  eyes  flashed  with  in- 
dignation, she  said: 

"Oh,  is  it  because  there  is  no  man  present  to  defend  me 
that  you  presume  thus  to  insult  a  lady?" 

With  her  tremulous  hands  she  covered  her  face  as  though 
to  prevent  the  additional  outrage  of  the  ruffian  staring  at 
her.  Through  this  screen  she  was  all  the  more  lovely,  so 
that  Cordbuff's  gaze  became  lighted  with  sudden  and  brutal 
lust.  He  abruptly  urged  his  horse  towards  Aurore,  aixl  from 
his  throat  this  exclamation  hoarsely  issued: 

"Oho,  are  we  shewing  anger  here?  Be  it  battle,  then  !  I 
shall  not  only  take  the  ring  but  a  kiss  as  well  as  price  of 
the  victory." 

"No,  you  shall  only  have  the  chastisement  due  such  in- 
solence, you  rascal!"  broke  in  a  thunderous  voice,  as  at  the 
same  time,  an  iron  grasp  caught  the  adventurer  by  the  waist 
and  tore  him  out  of  the  saddle  as  though  he  had  been  a 
feather. 

"He-elp  !"  gasped  the  wretch,  suffocated  by  the  unex- 
pected grip. 

His  four  adherents  lowered  their  muskets  to  the  level  ; 
but,  already,  Squire  Joel — for  it  was  none  other  who  had 
sprung  in  between  the  lady  and  the  Colonel  of  the  Royal 
Marauders, — was  holding  the  latter  up  and  out  at  arms-length, 
much  as  a  sportsman  exhibits  a  rabbit  to  the  yelping  pack  of 
terriers,  and  using  him  as  a  shield  against  the 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  13 

with  which  the  muzzles  aimed  at  him  were  menacing  him. 

"My  good  fellows,"  Said  he  peacefully,  "fire  away  if  so 
inclined  ;  but  you  will  fill  only  the  body  of  your  chief  with 
Jead  -  " 

"Oh,  no,  don't  fire,  in  heaven's  name  !  don't  fire,  for  the 
devil's  sake,"  moaned  Cordbuff,  in  desperation. 

The  muskets  were  raised  slowly,  but  the  Breton  did  not 
lower  his  buckler. 

"  Now,  gossips,"  he  proceeded  with  the  same  serenity, 
"suppose  we  chat  about  business.  I  expect  your  guns  carry 
each  a  bullet?  Well,  I  have  no  objection  to  buying  them  — 
all  four." 

A  clamor  arose,  and  Lieutentant  Lock-breaker  eagerly  de» 
manded: 

"  How  much  a-piece?" 

"Altogether,  as  much  cash  as  my  companions  have  put  in 
that  hat." 

The  four  hangdogs  looked  at  each  other  with  astonish- 
ment next  to  stupefaction,  while  the  young  man  continued: 

"All  you  have  to  do  is  to  blow  off  your  powder  at  the 
Bight  of  swallows  whirling  yonder  in  the  open,  and  I  will 
hand  over  to  you  all  the  spoil.  Otherwise,  have  a  care  !  at 
the  first  hostile  move,  I  shall  wring  your  captain's  neck,  —  or, 
say,  colonel's,  the  rank  making  no  difference  to  me  when  I 
am  wringing  the  neck  of  vultures  —  and  I  shall  make  use  of 
his  carcase  to  thresh  every  man-jack  of  ye,  one  down,  the 
others  take  their  turn.  Similia  Siinilibus,  all  with  the  same 
sauce,  as  wont  to  say  my  worthy  tutor  the  priest  of  Loc- 


During  this  address,  the  unhappy  Cordbuff  presented  the 
the  most  piteous  aspect  ;  he  was  no  longer  cynical  and  sul- 
lenly mocking.  The  braggart's  mask  had  been  knocked  off, 
and  laid  bare  the  wicked  coward's  vertigo  of  dread.  In  vain 
had  he  wrestled  in  his  adversary's  grasp.  The  wrist  was  as 
firm  as  iron  pincers,  and  still  held  him  like  a  ball-proof  plate 
between  the  Breton's  bosom  and  the  robbers'  bullets.  The 
latter  conferred  together  in  an  undertone. 

"  It  is  a  bargain,"  declared  Lock-breaker,  finallv  making 
a  sign  to  his  comrades,  who  discharged  their  muskets  at  the 
same  time  as  his  into  the  air. 

"  Take  the  money  !"  said  Joel,  spurning  the  hat  with  his 
boot  toe. 


14  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

The  highwayman-lieutenant  rode  up,  alighted,  and  clutched 
it.  Mounting  with  the  same  rapidity,  he  did  not  return  to 
his  companions,  who  were  awaiting  him  with  eyes  blazing 
with  greed,  but  clapped  spurs  to  his  horse,  turned  to  the  left 
side  of  the  road,  leaped  the  ditch  separating  it  from  the 
meadows,  and  galloped  off  over  the  fields  as  fast  as  he  could 

go- 
Up  rose  the  three-fold  shout:  "Robber!  false  brother!  oh, 
stop  the  thief  1"  Thus  did  Plucker,  Pillager  and  Pickpurse 
protest  against  such  an  appropriation  of  one's  neighbors' 
property,  before  rushing  with  a  common  impulse  in  pursuit 
of  the  renegade. 

"  Oh,  our  money!  thief,  our  money!"  so  roared  with  one 
voice  the  man-hunters  in  their  furious,  breathless  and  dis- 
orderly chase. 

And  "our  money  !  our  poor  money  !"  repeated  like  an 
echo,  on  the  spot,  the  notary,  ship-outfitter,  and  sardine- 
merchants  as  they  beheld  the  purloiner  of  the  hat  and  con- 
tents disappearing  with  his  speeding  followers  in  the  depths 
of  the  horizon. 

In  the  meantime,  young  Joel  had  replaced  on  his  legs  the 
redoubtable  knight  of  the  Road,  Cordbuff,  still  writhing  from 
the  grasp. 

Drawing  that  very  long  and  heavy  sword  of  his,  he  called 
nut : 

"  Now  then,  my  captain  of  cut-throats,  show  us  your  steel. 
I  do  not  want  to  crop  your  ears  without  some  little  defense 
on  your  part." 

"Monsieur  Joel,  will  you  allow  me  one  request " 

The  youth  turned  quickly,  for  it  was  the  fair  traveler  who 
spoke  to  him.  As  the  interruption  was  accompanied  by  a 
look  of  fond  gratitude,  our  champion  felt  his  heart  dance  in 
his  breast.  With  his  cheeks  redending  with  emotion,  he  re- 
spectfully doffed  his  hat,  and  replied  with  fire  in  his  voice, 
gesture  and  countenance  : 

"A  request  from  you  to  me  ?  say,  an  order,  which  I  shall 
be  only  too  happy  to  obey." 

It  was  the  lady's  turn  to  blush  and  be  perturbed,  and  she 
cast  down  her  eyes.  But,  pointing  to  the  royal  Marauder, 
•he  said  : 

'Let  this  fellow  go.     I  ask  it  as  a  favor." 

'This  scurvy  knave?"  said  our  hero,    shaking  his  head: 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  i$ 

"  Really,  on  my  faith,  lady,  the  rascal  has  offended  you — and 
I  must  slay  him  at  your  feet." 

"  Holloa  !"  broke  in  Cordbuff,  trying  to  brazen  it  out, 
"you  may  have  found  it  very  easy  to  unsaddle  me  by  sur- 
prise and  to  convert  me  into  a  corselet,  as  you  had  the  luck 

to  do,  but "  Here  he  put  his  hand  on  his  swordhilt,  but 

slowly  and  without  any  enthusiasm,  for  his  adversary  was  al- 
ready on  his  guard. 

Aurora  interposed  once  more,  saying  :  "Nay,  you  shall 
not  fight." 

"  I  should  like  to  know  why  not,"  remonstrated  the  young 
man. 

"Did  you  not  just  promise  me  obedience  ?" 

But  our  hero  was  as  fond  of  sword-play  as  a  life-guards- 
man, as  wrangling  as  a  theologian  and  as  obstinate  as  a  Bre- 
ton. 

"To  be  sure,"  he  said,  "if  I  were  alone  in  question,  I  should 
make  the  sacrifice  of  my  wrath  and  my  rancor  :  but  it  was 
to  a  lady  that  the  rudeness  was  shown.  Now,  the  old  soldier 
who  brought  me  up  often  repeated  to  me  :  when  anybody  is 
deficient  in  respect  due  a  lady  in  a  gentleman's  presence, 
his  sword  ought  to  leap  out  cc  its  scabbard  of  its  own 
accord  and  never  be  sheathed  until  Jie  offence  is  apologized 
for." 

"  So,  you  refuse  my  request  ?" 

*  I  entreat  you  to  ask  me  any  other.** 

"  It  is  still  the  only  one  which,  at  present,  I  desire  to  make 
to  you.  Come,  you  are  noble  ?" 

The  youth  hesitated  briefly  before  proudly  replying  : 

"  I  come  of  such  blood  on  the  sire's  side." 

"  Well,  I  am  Yolande  Henriette  Aurore  of  the  Tremblays, 
daughter  of  Baron  Louis  Maximilian  du  Tremblay,  in  his 
lifetime,  honorary  counsellor  and  register  as  well  as  lieuten- 
ant for  the  Marshals  of  France  for  the  province  of  Anjou 
wherein  we  stand  ;  and  I — in  the  name  of  my  sire  and 
tnyseif,  and  of  the  tribunal  of  Honor  which  he  represented 
and  of  all  the  nobility  submissive  to  its  jurisdiction — 1 
forbid  you  to  cross  steel  with  this  ragged  captain " 

"  Whew  !"  ejaculated  Cordbuff. 

"  Mark  this  well :  it  is  no  longer  a  matter  of  doing  me  a 
favor  for  what  1  am  telling  you  binds  you  as  surely  as  if  the 
•ergeant  of  constabulary  touched  you  with  his  crowned  staff 


16  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

on  the  shoulder — I  am  speaking  to  you  in  the  name  of  tht 
King  and  for  honor's  sake.  To  measure  yourself  with  such 
a  creature  would  be  Demeaning  your  station,  forfeiting  your 
own  self- respect  and  that  you  owe  to  the  traditions  of  dig- 
nity legated  to  you  by  your  ancestors  ;  lastly,  you  inflict  on 
the  order  to  which  we  both  belong,  an  insult  a  hundred  times 
more  flagrant  than  that  which  you  stubbornly  seek  to 
avenge— an  insult,"  concluded  the  lady,  "which  I  should 
never  forgive  you  as  long  as  I  live.  ' 

When  the  speaker  reminded  Joel  of  his  rank,  nobility  and 
ancestors,  you  might  see  his  face  suffuse  with  blushes,  and 
he  was  as  much  embarrassed  as  surprised  at  the  effect  of 
this  language  upon  him.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  a  fact 
that  he  had  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  famous  Tribunal  on  the 
Point  of  honor,  instituted  in  the  previous  reign  to  prevent 
duels  between  wearers  by  right  of  the  sword,  often  interven- 
ing to  stop  quarrels  after  hearing  the  complaints. 

*'  I  yield,"  he  said,  confronted  with  the  lady's'last  words 
and  the  resolute  tone  which  emphasized  them,  and  he  re- 
stored his  weapon  to  its  sheath.  "Let  it  pass,"  he  said  to 
Cordbuff.  "  Begone!  you  have  been  begged  off." 

During  the  debate  between  the  squire  and  the  young  lady, 
the  craven  had  operated  his  retreat  to  his  horse.  The  trav- 
elers did  not  in  truth  pay  any  attention  to  him,  or  to  the 
dialogue.  They  were  still  gazing  in  the  direction  in  which 
their  "  poor  money*'  had  flown  in  the  care  c  the  ingenious 
Lock-breaker,  whose  trio  of  hail-fellows  vainly  gave  Iwn 
chase  with  all  the  powers  of  their  mangy  steeds. 

As  for  the  coachman,  Paquedru,  he  was  hunting  in  the 
dust  to  see  if  any  coin  had  escaped  from  the  stolen  hoard. 

An  outcry  of  savage  }oy  replied  to  Joel  s  boon,  it  was 
from  Cordbuff  who  bounded  into  his  saddle  where  he  took 
the  bridle  between  his  teeth,  and  drew  a  pistol  from  each 
holster. 

"  Soho  !  you  grant  me  mercy  >  do  you,  my  turtle  doves  ? 
but  I  am  not  going  to  spare  you  ! 

He  took  aim  and  fired  both  arms  at  the  same  moment. 
But  the  young  man  with  the  swiftness  of  thought  had  flung 
himself  before  the  other  target.  A  streak  of  blood  was 
marked  on  his  forehead,  and  he  reeled  as  he  carried  his  hand 
to  his  chest.  Aurore  uttered  a  loud  shriek. 

"  Good-bye  to  you,  ray  Hector  '"  shouted  the  robber,  10- 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  H 

toxicated  with  rage  and  triumph.  "As  for  you,  my  pretty 
maid,  we  shall  have  a  merrier  meeting  next  time  !" 

Spurring  his  steed,  he  was  off  like  a  whirlwind.  In  his 
way  was  the  group  formed  by  notary,  sardine-naerchants  and 
ship-outfitte^  who  were  all  four  rolled  in  the  dust.  Before 
the  lightest  of  them  rose  to  his  feet,  Condor  was  at  a  distance. 
Let  us  do  them  the  justice  to  report  that;  instead  of  flying 
in  pursuit  of  him,  they  all  rushed  to  assist  the  wounded  youth, 
whom  Paquedru  had  hastened  to  support.  But  here  hap- 
pened an  unexpected  incident  :  it  was  not  the  shot  man  who 
fell,  for  he  stiffened  hrmself  on  his  legs  and  rejected  aid,  but 
the  girl.  The  sight  ot  the  blood  trickling  out  of  the  wound 
received  on  her  behalf  and  tearing  the  defender's  brow,  had 
given  her  a  twinge  at  the  heart.  She  closed  her  eyes  ;  her 
features  were  covered  with  deadly  pallor  :  and  her  body  so 
collapsed  that  the  young  squire  had  barely  time  to  open  his 
arms  to  sustain  her.  He  bent  over  the  girl  with  his  face 
bedewed  with  blood,  and  forgetful  of  his  own  state,  from  the 
anxiety  which  this  sudden  swoon  caused  him,  he  called  : 

"  Lady,  return  to  your  senses  !  What  is  the  matter  f  Were 
you  hit  ?  In  heaven's  name,  speak,  I  beg  of  you  !" 

There  came  no  answer,  for  Aurore's  swoon  turned  to  hys- 
terics. Spasmodic  movements  thrilled  her  limbs,  and  dull 
moaning  came  from  her  bosons  Paquedru  and  the  travelers 
bustled  about  her  to  offer  their  best  services. 

"  Thump  her  in  the  back  lis  suggested  the  driver. 

"  Who  carries  smelling  salts  ?"  inquired  the  notary,  "  or 
has  a  feather  to  burn  under  her  nose  P 

"  A  good  glass  of  cider  would  fetch  her  to,*1  counselled 
Guerinee. 

"  With  spice  in  it  and  a  pinch  of  pepper*  added  his 
mate. 

The  ship-outfitter  was  for  the  most  simple  and  economical 
remedies,  for  he  ventured  : 

*'  There  is  nothing  like  a  dash  of  cold  water  bang  in  th* 
face* 

At  this  critical  moment  the  rolling  of  &  carriage,,  or  an- 
other coach;  was  heard  on  the  road 

*£  If  that  brings  a  doctor,  it  will  be  a  godsend -r  remarked 
the  scrivener. 

And  all  turned  their  eyes  V>  «ee  what  heaven— or  the  othet 
place — was  sending  thea 


18  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOSi  OM. 


CHAPTER  II. 

TWO  OF  OUR  OLD  ACQUAINTANCES. 

THE  traveling-carriage  which  came  towards  the  coach  in 
distress,  was  about  a  quarter  of  a  league  distant  when  the 
affray  >vas  going  on.  It  was  drawn  by  four  first-class  post- 
horses  which  sent  the  showers  in  sparks  from  the  pebbles  of 
the  road.  Around  the  vehicle  galloped,  not  less  as  an  escort 
than  a  guard  of  honor,  half-a-dozen  strapping  footmen, 
swart  and  of  martial  appearance,  who  carried  a  sword  by  the 
side  and  musketoons  at  the  saddle-bow. 

On  the  back-seat  cushions,  inside,  an  old  gentleman  was 
seated,  who  still  wore  the  long  hair  reaching  the  shoulders, 
and  the  fine  moustache  and  royale,  or  goatee,  of  the  reign  of 
Louis  XIII. 

This  venerable  man  must  have  been  of  remarkable  beauty 
half  a  century  back.  He  had  retained  of  the  good  looks  the 
eagle-like  profile:  a  broad  forehead  impressed  with  Majesty 
acircumsp-ct  mouth,  by  a  miracle  preserving  enviable  teeth, 
a  chin  of  correct  outline,  albeit  prominent  and  angular  ;  as 
well  as  black  eyes  of  piercing  lustre,  and  feet  and  hands  of 
which  many  a  princess  would  be  proud.  He  was  clad  entire- 
ly in  black  velvet,  with  a  small  skull-cap  apparently  to  con- 
ceal where  he  had  been  shaven,  like  a  priest. 

But  hair,  chin-tuft  and  moustaches  were  blanched  into 
snow.  The  thin  frame  seemed  near  to  snapping  in  two.  The 
yellow  complexion  would  have  delighted  the  lovers  of  an- 
tiques. The  features  were  hooked  rather  than  purely  aqui- 
line; the  forehead  was  laden  with  wrinkles  and  lips  were  so 
thin  that  the  mouth  resembled  a  slit  with  a  knife.  Flacced 
lids  drooped  to  mask  the  fire  of  the  sight;  and  the  hands  had 
waxen  hues  and  cracked  at  the  knuckles  like  those  of  skele- 
tons amid  the  clouds  of  rich  lace  which  half  smothered  them. 

On  the  front  seat,  facing  this  man  in  the  sere  and  yellow 
of  age,  dozed  another  old  man,  but  of  corpulent  habit. 

He  affected  to  maintain  the  attitude  towards  the  gentle- 
man of  an  old  servant — both  familiar  and  respectful.  He 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  19 

Seemed  to  be  about  the  same  age  as  his  master,  and  like  him, 
wore  a  black  suit,  of  strict  cut  and  clerical  appearance, 
This  was  worn  with  as  much  conceit  as  dignity  on  a  body 
which  good  living  had  given  the  rotundity  of  the  conven- 
tional abbots  of  the  days  of  good  cheer.  His  visage  was  in 
keeping  with  his  figure.  Between  puffy  cheeks  a  squat  nose 
withdrew  from  view,  after  the  former  had  robbed  the  other 
features  :  his  chin  retired  from  a  layer  of  puff  pasts,  rather 
than  healthy  ilesh,  and  this  had  threatened  to  blind  him.  His 
hair,  no  less  white  than  his  opposite  neighbors,  was  cut 
square^/  and  sanctimoniously  down  at  three  lines  of  his 
brows.  Let  us  hasten  to  recal  to  the  reader  that  his  forehead 
in  its  most  open  days,  had  never  boasted  more  than  an  inch 
and  a  half. 

At  the  time  when  we  peer  in  at  them,  the  master  was 
brooding  and  the  attendant  was  napping. 

At  a  jolt,  the  former  exclaimed  : 

"Monsieur  Bazin  .'' 

The  other  opened  his  eyes,  and  stammered 

"Did  your  Right  Reverence  do  me  the  honor  to  address 
me?" 

The  other  replied  with  a  smile 

"I  am  afraid  you  forget,  my  dear  old  Bazin,  that  I  am  no 
Right  Reverence;  a  full  score  of  years  have  rung  out  since  I 
was  bishop  of  Vannesand  ceased  to  belong  to  the  Church- 
Militant — having  renounced  looking  after  the  salvation  of 
others  to  take  care  of  my  own." 

"I  fear  me,"  sighed  the  fat  fellow,  "that  it  is  the  soonei 
to  reach  it  by  the  way  of  penitence  and  mortification,  then, 
that  we  have  quitted  Madrid,  where  life  flowed  so  gently — to 
race  up  hill  and  down  dale,  instead  of  dwelling  tranquil  in 
prayer  and  repose  over  the  remnant  of  days  which  may  be 
granted  us  upon  this  earth " 

"Precisely  ;  and  I  would  observe  in  connection  with  your 
remark,  that  we  are  moving  very  slowly.  I  am  in  haste  to 
arrive  as  soon  as  possible.  Just  bid  the  postilions  make 
haste  ! "" 

"But  we  are  going  at  a  round  gait  !  The  road  is  a  rougn 
one  and  a  horse  may  stumble.  Your  Excellency  should 
bear  in  mind  that  an  upset  might  be  mortal  at  ycur  age." 

His  Excellency  shrugged  his  shoulders  in  unconcern. 

*'Speak  for  yourself,  Master  Bazin.     You    are    five   and 


lo  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

seventy,  true  ;  but  I  am  but  thirty-eight — twice  toM  1** 
"But  still,  my  lord  duke  !" 

"Enough!"  impatiently  interrupted  the  Duke  of  Almada. 
"Do  as  you  are  told,  and  cease  to  load  me  with  titles  which 
will  draw  the  attention  of  the  inquisitive  upon  me.  Remem- 
ber that  1  am  to  preserve  the  strictest  incognito  until  we 
teach  Paris." 

"Then  what  title  shall  I  give  to  my  lord  the  Ambassador?1 
"Style  me  the  Chevalier  d'Herbaly,  as  in  days  of  yore." 
"The  Chevalier  d'Herblay,"  reiterated  the  servitor,  clasp- 
ing his  plump  hands.  "Sonc  Dcus  !  as  in  the  time  of  riding 
at  full  gallop  affrays  and  running  folks  through  with  sword 
and  dagger  :    verily,  why   should  not  my  lord  assume   at 
once  his  old  habits,  the  sword  and  boots  and  cassock  of  the 
Royal  Musketeers,  with  the  title  ?" 

Sadly  the  aged  noble  shook  his  head,  muttering  : 
''Nay,  ARAMISis  no  more.  He  is  dead  with  his  three 
companions-in-arms,  three  friends — three  brothers  !  Aramis 
has  gone  into  the  dust  with  Athos,  Porthos,  and  d'Artagnan. 
How  is  it  that  not  one  of  them  has  left  a  son  or  even  a 
daughter  to  revive  the  valorous  name  ?  It  seemed  to  me  that 
a  spark  of  such  glory  should  be  yet  existent  !  Oh,  were  that 
the  case,  with  what  joy  I  should  nourish  it,  and  fan  it  into  a 
flame  so  that  men  by  that  light  might  perceive  what  lustre 
we  four  shed  on  the  corps  of  royal  lifeguards  and  on  the 
name  of  Frenchmen. "Resuming  a  dry  voice,  he  said  aloud: 
"I  repeat  that  I  am  for  the  present,  and  wish  solely  to  be, 
the  Chevalier  d'Herblay." 

"Very  well,"  grumbled  the  stout  man,  who  with  his  gross- 
ness  had  not  been  blessed  with  the  good  humor  which  had 
only  increased  in  his  fellow-servant,  the  worthy  Mousqueton; 
"Enough  is  said.  We  shall  conform  to  the  wishes — that  is, 
the  will  of  the  Chevalier.  But,  if  we  are  going  to  plunge 
anew  into  the  life  of  adventures,  I  shall  hand  in  my  resig- 
nation as  steward:  despite  my  age,  I  have  not  the  faintest 
longing  to  join  so  soon  in  eternity,  whither  were  too  hastily 
hurried  by  fatigue  suffered  and  hard  knocks  borne,  my  poor 
comrades,  Pianchet,  Griraaud  and  Mousqueton." 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM1S.  91 

CHAPTER  III. 

THE  EXTRAORDINARY   PHYSICIAN. 

WE  have  said  that  the  rumble  of  a  vehicle  started  the  con« 
solers  of  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay,  by  the  side  of  the  stopped  stage- 
coach. In  a  few  instants  up  came  the  Chevalier  d'Herblay's 
carriage,  in  a  cloud  of  dust,  witii  the  swiftness  and  rolling 
of  thunder.  Shortly  it  had  nearly  reached  the  group  around 
the  lady  and  her  fellow-travelers  who  were  in  the  middle  of 
the  way.  The  postilions  and  the  outriders  were  obliged  to 
curb  the  horses,  whose  bits  were  white  with  froth. 

"  Make  room  there  1"  shouted  the  lackeys  of  the  escort, 
while  the  postboys  yelled  :  "  Look  out  there,  look  to  your- 
selves !" 

At  the  same  time  the  old  nobleman  lowered  one  of  the 
windows  and  demanded  "What  is  the  matter  ?" 

"Hold,  whoever  you  are,"  called  out  Squire  Joel,  "and 
come  to  ouraid.  This  young  lady  whom  you  see,  is  dying !" 

"  A  lady  dying  ?  Stop,  boys  !  rein  in,  lackeys  !  Wait  a 
little,  sir :  I  am  at  your  orders." 

He  was  obeyed.  The  carriage  door  was  opened,  and  the 
noble  alighted  with  an  ease  not  to  be  suspected  in  one  of 
his  age.  He  briskly  stepped  up  to  our  hero,  and  with  an 
accent  of  surprise  exclaimed  :  "  But  you  are  yourself 
wounded!" 

"  Pooh  !  less  than  nothing — only  a  scratch.  I  prithee,  do 
not  heed  me." 

The  old  gentleman  had  given  the  fair  frank  face  a  look  as 
of  one  who  was  reminded  of  a  resemblance,  but  the  girl's  had 
a  stronger  attraction,  and  her  marvellous  beauty,  as  she  re- 
posed in  the  Breton's  arms,  drew  from  him  an  outcry  of  in- 
voluntary admiration. 

"  Be  of  good  cheer,"  said  he,  after  a  brief  examination. 
"  No  danger  is  to  be  apprehended.  This  person  is  simply 
under  the  sway  of  one  of  those  attacks  of  the  nerves,  often 
felt  by  females  after  violent  emotions.  Without  being  a  great 
physician,  I  warrant  that  I  can  relieve  her."  He  raised  his 
voice,  and  called  :  "  Hillo,  there,  you,  Esteban,  Pedrillo  ! 
bring  a  mantle  I  and  you,  Bazin*  let  me  have  my  traveling 
surgical-case." 


at  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR. 

The  two  articles  being  promptly  brought,  the  improvised 
physician  continued  :  "  Spread  the  cloak  on  the  ground,  and 
lay  the  poor  girl  upon  it.  That  is  right.  Now,  I  should  liko 
somebody  to  kneel  beside  her  and  support  her  head." 

Joel  would  not  resign  to  any  one  the  care  of  carrying  out 
the  orders  of  the  doctor.  From  his  case  the  latter  took  out  a 
bronze  bladed  knife  and  a  small  crystal  phial.  He  bent  ovei 
Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  and  used  the  knife  to  force  her  teeth 
open,  with  endless  caution.  This  slight  lock-jaw  overcome, 
alter  a  spasm,  he  introduced  past  her  lips  the  tiny  mouth  ot 
tiie  phial  and  poured  out  one  or  two  drops  of  the  liquid  con- 
tents. Instantly,  the  color  began  to  return  to  the  pale  cheeks 
and  the  heaving  of  her  bosom  subsiding,  her  meanings  and 
convulsions  ceased  also  as  through  enchantment. 

"  What  did  I  tell  you  ?"  remarked  the  friend  in  need,  ris- 
ing. "  This  calming  extract  is  sovereign  for  affections  of  this 
nature.  Our  patient  is  out  of  danger  at  present." 

**  But  she  has  not  yet  opened  her  eyes."  objected  the 
Breton. 

"  Because  to  the  period  of  excitement  succeeds  that  of 
prostration  which  is  the  obligatory  consequence  ;  but  the 
young  .ady  will  not  be  long  regaining  her  senses,  and  she 
has  nothing  to  fear  from  an  accident,  which,  all  things  con- 
sidered, is  very  common  in  her  sex.  But,"  feeling  once 
more  a  strong  and  unaccountable  interest  in  the  youth, "why 
do  you  not  think  of  having  your  wound  attended  to  ?" 

"Pshaw!"  said  Joel,  with  a  careless  gesture,  "  a  band* 
age  wet  with  salt  and  water,  and  it  will  not  even  leave  a 
mark.  'Tis  but  a  graze — the  bullet  merely  glanced  off  the 
temple.'* 

"But  you  stood  two  shots,"  remarked  the  notary,  with  pro- 
fessional accuracy. 

"Ay,  what  became  of  the  other  ?"  Simon  Prieur  wanted  ta 
learn. 

"It  seemed  to  me  that  it  struck  you  fair  in  the  chest,"  cox» 
tinued  the  coachdriver. 

"We  saw  it  stagger  you,"  added  both  the  dealers  in  sar- 
dines. 

From  the  time  when  the  lady  was  pronounced  out  of  peril, 
the  youth  seemed  to  recover  all  his  good  humor. 

**Oddsbob«!"  said  he,  gailv.  "the  knave  did  aim  well.  ¥ 
caught  the  bullet  under  my  breastbone,  but,  d'ye  see,  it 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  ij 

flattened  on  a  leather  belt  which  carries  my  little  fortune  un« 
der  cover,  and  my  five  hundred  livres  in  hard  cash  are  right 
as  the  bank.  If  it  had  been  paper  money,  it  would  have 
been  bored  through  like  a  sheet  of  wax,  and  my  breadbasket 
would  have  had  a  leak  in  it  likely  to  interfere  with  my  hearty 
meals.  As  it  turnes  out,  I  am  merely  bruised.  Still  it  was  a 
pretty  hard  knock." 

"Receive  my  compliments,"  said  the  old  noble  witli  affec- 
tionate kindliness  :  "you  placed  your  money  to  good  advant- 
age !  I  never  knew  but  one  who  could  have  stood  up 
against  a  shock  like  that.  I  should  like  to  hear  the  whole 
story,"  ha  went  on,  consulting  a  large  and  yet  tasteful  watcft 
set  with  brilliants  ;  "but  time  presses,  and,  besides,  our  in- 
terestrr.g  patient  still  needs  our  attentions.  Is  it  your  sister,, 
by  chance  ?  Your  betrothed,  by  other  luck?  and  neither  rel- 
ative, nor  friend  ?" 

"My  only  knowledge  is  from  having  travelled  in  her  com- 
pany these  four-and-twenty  hours." 

"Do  you  know  her  destination  ?" 

"If  I  heard  aright,  she  is  bound  for  Paris,  like  all  of  us.'* 

"Is  there  no  relative  of  hers  among  your  company  ?" 

A  negative  ran  the  rounds  of  the  bystanders. 

"In  that  case,  I  offer  to  see  her  there  in  safety,"  declared 
the  chevalier. 

"Take  her  away  ?"  exclaimed  Joel. 

"Oh,"  returned  the  master  of  Bazin,  smiling,  "only  as  far 
As  the  termination  of  her  journey.  Where  do  you  change 
horses  at  Saumur  ?  he  went  on  to  inquire  of  Paquedru. 

"At  the  Golden  Heron  Inn,  in  the  St.  Jean  suburb,  where 
Ae  travelers  have  time  allowed  for  refreshment." 

"  How  long  does  it  take  you  to  reach  it  ?" 

"Say,  better  than  an  hour  at  the  least." 

"Well,  you  will  find  your  lady  traveler  there,  carried  in 
my  coach  in  an  hour  or  so- before  you,  and  in  that  gained 
time  she  will  have  rested  and  received  such  cares  from  the 
servant-girls  as  her  condition  can  have  from  women  only.'* 

The  coachman  bowed  as  one  who  says  :  "As  it  may  please 
your  lordship." 

D'Herblay  waved  his  hand  for  his  followers  to  bear  the 
girl  into  his  carriage. 

"Put  her  in  my  place,"  he  said.  '  I  will  sit  with  Bazij 
to  the  front  seat/* 


SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR. 

"As  two  of  the  lackeys  stepped  towards  Mdlle.  du  Trem» 
blay  to  carry  out  the  order,  Joel  took  a  step  himself  to  inter. 
pose  his  body  between  them  and  the  lady,  still  insensible 
upon  the  mantle. 

"But,"  he  faltered. 

The  nobleman  eyed  him  with  such  a  lofty  manner  that  he 
••topped,  unable  to  continue  his  protest. 

"My  young  master,"  said  the  old  gentleman  quietly,  *'I 
surely  am  not  compelled  to  ask  you  by  what  right  you  as- 
sume to  oppose  this  act  of  humanity  ?" 

Abashed,  the  youth  hung  his  head,  as  the  gentleman  pro- 
ceeded, while  the  footmen  carried  Aurore  into  the  vehi- 
cle, "No  matter!  Say  no  more.  I  accept  as  expressed  the 
regret  to  be  read  upon  your  countenance,  and  I  forgive  you 
with  a  true  heart  for  having  forgotten  that  a  lady  is  always 
sate  under  mine  honor." 

Only  twenty-five  minutes  afterwards,  his  carriage  stopped 
before  the  golden  Heron  at  Saumur. 

Upon  the  noise  of  the  horses  breathing  hard,  with  their 
froth-flecked  flanks  heaving  and  smoking,  the  bells  jangling 
round  their  necks,  the  postboys'  whips  cracking  as  hard  as 
they  could  sound  them,  and  the  lackeys  shouting  "  House, 
ho!"as  they  got  out  of  the  saddle,  out  ran  the  landlord,  Mas- 
ter Hermelin,  with  wife,  two  daughters  and  all  his  house- 
hold, to  receive  the  traveler  who  arrived  with  so  uproarious 
and  sumptuous  a  turn-out. 

"I  want  the  host  ?"  challenged  the  latter  from  the  inter- 
ior. 

"It  is  \,  my  lord  rejoined  the  Boniface,  bowing  like  a 
clown  in  the  circus. 

*  At  once  make  ready  the  best  bed  in  your  best  room." 
Straightway,   my  lord."       With  well-founded   pride,  he 
added  ;       J  The  best  bed  stands  in  the  best  room,  my  lord 
and  that  is  my  own." 

Without  listening  to  this,  the  speaker  had  alighted  a*  d  he 
turned  with  gallantry  to  offer  his  hand  to  Mdlle.  du  T\  ^ra« 
blay.  saying  : 

"Come,  my  dear  child.  n 

She  stepped  down  in  her  turn;  she  had  completely  returned 
to  consciousness,  but  she  was  in  need  of  support  as  she 
was  weak  and  pale  from  the  sudden  shock. 

''Really  sir,  I  do  not  know  how  to  repay        P* 


"Hush  !"  interrupted  the  old  noble,  laying  a  finger  on 
his  lips,  "not  another  word.  Your  physician  extraordinary  for- 
bids you  to  fatigue  yourself  by  talking.'*  He  beckoned  the 
daughters  and  chambermaid  of  the  host  and  ordered  them 
to  take  special  care  of  the  lady.  "Conduct  her  to  the  rooms 
taken  by  me,  which  are  at  her  disposal.  My  steward  accom- 
panies you,  to  let  me  know  if  anything  requires  my  presence. 
Go,  go,  my  charming  patient,"  he  concluded  to  Aurore,  "and 
take  the  repose  without  fear,  of  which  you  stand  in  need,  to 
complete  your  restoration.  I  will  watch  that  you  may  be 
roused  for  the  resumption  of  your  journey.  Then,  allow 
me  to  be  thanked  for  a  service  which,  however,  any  gentle- 
man would  have  shown  you  in  my  stead." 

Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  gave  him  a  smile  of  gratitude,  and  en- 
tered the  inn,  leaning  on  Dame  Hermelin's  arm  and  followed 
by  the  latter's  daughters,  as  well  as  by  Bazin,  who  grum- 
bled in  an  undertone  at  the  incident  and  the  burden  imposed 
upon  him. 

The  chevalier  was  about  to  do  likewise  when  a  lounger, 
seated  on  the  stone  bench  by  the  doorway,  rose  and  bowed 
to  him  so  pointedly  that  the  old  noble  ejaculated: 

"Eh  ?  unless  I  am  in  error,  we  have  M.  de  Boislaurier  at 
Saumur.  But  any  time  and  place  are  good  where  you  are 
met  with." 

''The  pleasure  is  on  my  side," replied  the  other,  again  sal- 
uting, "what  joy  to  meet  so  unexpectedly " 

"The  Chevalier  d'Herblay,"  suggested  the  traveler,  laying 
significant  stress  on  the  title  under  which  he  wanted  to  mas- 
querade. 

A  wink  from  Boislaurier  showed  that  he  had  taken  the 
hint.  He  was  a  man  of  ripe  age,  and  with  a  face  serious 
and  discreet.  Booted  and  spurred  like  a  royal  messenger, 
he  was  clad  in  a  hunting  dress  of  buff  velvet,  with  feather  to 
the  hat  and  ribbons  of  the  same  hue.  After  shaking  hands 
with  the  new-comer,  he  spoke  aloud  with  the  intention  of 
being  overheard  : 

"I  had  an  appointment  with  a  friend  in  this  town  to  go 
stag-hunting;  but  some  business  must  have  retained  him  on 
his  estate  for  I  have  been  vainly  waiting  a  couple  of  days." 

"And  you  are  in  desperate  tedium'" 

"Of  course  !  I  commenced  to  lose  patience,  and  very 
little  would  start  me  back  to  town." 


>6  THE  SON  OF  PORT  HO  S ;  OX, 

"If  you  have  no  objections,  you  might  do  me  the  honor  to 
jhare  my  coach  with  me  this  evening." 

In  chatting  thus  the  two  entered  the  hostelry  dining-room. 

''Won't  you  gentlemen  do  me  the  honor  of  taking  meals 
onder  my  roof  ?"  queried  the  host,  bowing  as  though  he  had 
a  hinge  in  the  lower  part  of  his  spine,  for  these  were  cus- 
tomers of  importance. 

"Confound  me,  but  the  appeal  is  well  rounded,"  observed 
the  chevalier,  "  and  the  salutations  smack  of  the  court  fash- 
ions. Little  would  one  think  to  find  the  Versailles  style  at 
Saumur." 

"The  reason,"  said  the  host  proudly,  "the  reason  is  that  I 
have  not  always  lived  in  the  country  ;  I  can  tell  you  that  1 
cooked  for  the  Marquis  de  Villeroy.*' 

"The  royal  groom-in-waiting  ?  and  one  of  the  daintiest 
gourmets  in  the  realm  of  France  !  Plague  on  us  but  the 
cheer  ought  to  be  appetizing  here  !  Would  you  like  us  to 
test  it  in  company,  my  dear  Lord  of  the  Boislauriers  ?" 

"How  can  you  ask  me  !  most  willingly  !  It  will  be  both 
an  honor  and  a  pleasure  to  sit  at  your  table." 

"In  that  case,  it  is  a  settled  thing,"  said  M.  d'Herblay, 
turning  to  the  host.  "We  will  take  dinner,  friend.  Serve  in 
half  an  hour  ;  and  distinguish  yourself,  without  any  fear  of 
our  looking  at  the  bill  too  closely.  Away  to  your  kitchen! 
Meanwhile,  this  gentleman  and  I  will  renew  an  old  acquain- 
tanceship?* 

"I  haste  away,  my  lords,  and  you  will  be  contented,  I  vow 
to  you."  And  the  delighted  landlord-and-cook  departed  with 
many  a  salaam. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

HOW  ROYAL  FAVORITES  DIE. 

No  sooner  had  the  door  closed  behind  the  host  than  the 
elder  nobleman  quickly  turned  to  his  guest,  and  inquired 
in  a  low  voice,  dropping  the  jovial  tone  which  he  had 
adopted  : 

''I  suppose  you  came  here  expressly  to  meet  me,  eh,  B«>is- 
laurier  ?" 

"Just  so,  my  lord  the  duke,"  was  the  respectful  reply 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  yj 

"And  you  come  on  behalf  or  Father  Lachaise,  tne  royal 
confessor  ?" 

"It  was  he  wwo.  notified  of  the  route  you  chose  to  reach 
Paris •" 

"The  sea  route,  via  Bayonne  and  Saint  Nazaire '* 

*'  I  continue,  that  it  was  he  who  sent  me  to  your  grace, 
and  I  waited  for  your  coming  in  this  modest  inn  of  this  petty 
town,  where  I  was  certain  that  our  meeting' would  not  be 
1  noticed  by  anybody." 

"  You  have  acted  wisely.     For  at  least  some  time  my  re- 
,  turn  into  France  should  be  kept  from  the  King  and  court. 
Do  you  bring  me  any  news  ?" 

"  Grave  news,  my  lord." 

"  Oh!  ho  \  with  what  a  mien  you  tell  me  so.  Grave  rises 
to  the  superlative,  gravest,  in  that  tone." 

"  Most  grave,  indeed.  Judge  for  yourself— the  royal 
favorite  is  no  more." 

"Mdlle.  de  Fontanges  dead?" 

"Aals!  it  is  so." 

"But  scarcely  over  twenty  ':  it  is  dreadful  !  no,  no,  it  can- 
not be  !" 

"It  is  only  too  true  ,  and  I  am  charged  by  the  reverend 
father  to  acquaint  your  grace  with  all  the  particulars  of  the 
mysterious  event." 

"Mysterious,  say  you?" 

"  So  much  so,  that  history  itself  may  remain  puzzled  to 
decipher  the  funeral  enigma." 

The  traveler  frowned  as  he  listened,  seated.  With  a  wave 
of  the  hand,  he  invited  the  messenger  to  take  a  chair  by  his 
side,  when,  leaning  towards  him  as  if  he  feared  that  the  inn 
walls  had  ears  to  catch  the  words  about  to  be  interchanged, 
he  said  . 

**  Come,  come,  enough  of  enigmas  !  I  require  facts, 
Speak  without  reticence  and  omit  nothing  which  might  en- 
lighten me<  ' 

;s  The  new  LaValliere,"  said  Boislaurier,  slowly,  "  commit- 
ted three  mistakes  *  she  insulted  Madame  de  Montespan  by 
parading  her  triumph  in  winning  the  King  away  from  her, 
and  the  proud  Athenais -" 

"I  knew  her  as  Mdlle.  de  Tonnay-Charente,"  interpolated 
the  auditor. 

"Does  not  readily  forgive.    The  second  error  was  to  tak» 


38  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

into  her  service,  a  valet  who  came  from  her  supplanted  rival*! 
household  ;  and  the  third  to  accept  from  this  fellow's  hand 
a  cup  of  milk,  and  drink  it  off  at  a  draft  one  evening  when 
she  was  warm  and  thirsty." 

He  who  was  called  Aramis,  was  not  a  sensitive  man.  His 
heart  was  dried  up,  like  that  of  all  old  men  who  have  been 
fond  of  the  fair  sex  or  much  loved  by  them.  Hence  he  had 
listened  without  wincing  to  the  tragic  story  of  the  poor  mock- 
queen  of  a  day,  cut  off  in  all  the  flower  of  her  youth  and 
beauty  and  royal  favor. 

**  Saha!"  he  limited  himself  to  saying:  "  Let  me  tell  you 
that  this  is  a  dreadful  accusation  that  you  are  setting  afloat." 

"It  is  not  of  my  invention,  but  public  opinion  circulated 
under  the  cloak,  in  the  court  and  town — it  is  what  circum- 
stances point  to — what  the  inquest  has  brought  out.  Presi- 
dent Lareynie  and  his  Ardent  Chamber  being  commissioned 
by  his  Majesty  to  investigate  the  matter  of  the  wholesale 
Poisoning  which  terrified  the  whole  capital." 

"What  has  the  outcome  been  of  this  Inquest?" 

"It  established  undeniably  that  Madame  de  Montespan 
tried  to  remove  her  rival  of  infected  garments  and  gloves  of- 
fered to  her  by  two  villains  namely,  a  servant  named  Ro- 
mani  and  a  Lyons  silk  merchant's  clerk  named  Bertrand  ; 
and  after  applying  to  a  regular  professional  poisoner,  known 
as  La  Filastre,  the  marchioness  determined  to  rely  on  La 
Voisin  to  make  away  with  Mdlle.  de  Fontanges  without 
the  manner  being  plain.  She  used,  as  a  go-between,  her  own 
maid,  the  Desoeillets  girl." 

"Is  it  not  in  my  memory  that  this  Voisin  woman  was  tried, 
sentenced  and  executed?" 

"  Certainly,  my  lord,  and  in  great  baste  lest  she 
spoke " 

"I  should  have  thought  that  she  was  put  to  the  torture  to 
riaake  her  prattle " 

"So  they  did,  my  lord,  but  on  an  order  from  the  King  at 
St.  Germain's,  her  statement  was  taken  on  separate  paper 
from  the  official  records  so  that  his  Majesty  might  destroy 
them  without  the  tribunal  at  the  Royal  Arsenal  having  any 
cognisance  of  them.  So  were  treated  the  statements  of  La 
Filastre.  The  questioning  of  Romani  and  Bertrand  was  de- 
ferred. In  the  last  place,  the  Minister  Louvois  brought 
about  a  meeting  between  the  king  and  his  discarded  mi*- 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  29 

tress  in  which  the  latter  passed  from  weeping  to  recrimina- 
tion and  thence  to  a  very  high-handed  manner. 

The  hearer  made  a  contemptuous  gesture. 

"I  cannot  say  that  it  is  hard  to  imagine  the  interview,"  he 
remarked  phlegmatically.  "  Here  you  have  the  monarch 
questioning  but  not  without  agitation  Kand  he  accuses  the 
woman,  there  ;  he  calls  for  admissions  which  are  indignantly 
refused  him  and  he  cannot  even  wring  evidence  of  repent- 
ance. The  culprit  falls  to  weeping.  Soon,  according  to 
woman's  inevitable  tactics,  she  inverts  the  proper  order  of 
things — she  takes  the  offensive,  and  reproaches  her  judge 
with  his  infidelity  towards  her — the  primary  cause  of  her 
false  steps  and  crime.  It  was  jealousy  that  forced  her  to 
commit  it  !  the  excess  of  her  passion — the  flame  of  love 
which  devoured  her!  Men  willingly  excused  the  crime  of 
which  they  were  the  origin.  Louis,  who  flatters  himself 
that  he  is  a  god,  after  once  smiling  on  those  who  told  him 
so  when  he  ought  have  laughed  at  them — Louis  is  as  much 
a  man  as  others.  I  can  see  him  putting  faith  in  these  pro 
tests,  drinking  in  this  adulation  like  incense,  and  growing  in 
toxicated  on  his  adoration  as  upon  so  much  nectar.  After  all, 
it  is  only  a  riot  in  a  harem.  One  of  the  sultans  murders  an- 
other ;  and  merely  to  be  alone  in  kneeling  to  the  universal 
idol.  What  a  piece  of  flattery  for  his  pride  !  For  your  Olym- 
pian Jove,  whose  frown  shakes  entire  Europe,  is  weaker 
than  a  school-boy,  simpler  than  an  errand-boy,  and  more  trust- 
ful than  his  shopkeepers  of  Paris,  when  pricked  by  his  sense 
and  tickled  by  his  self-conceit'.  This  is  so  true  that  he  for- 
gave all,  pronounced  it  justified,  and  sets  up  the  proud 
Athenais  in  court  firmer  and  more  mighty  than  ever." 

"So  mighty,"  agreed  M.  Boislaurier,  "that  the  Empire  and 
the  United  Provinces  deem  it  proper  to  consult  her  by 
ambassadors." 

The  veteran  intriguer  stared  at  the  speaker  with  astonish- 
ment. 

"How  now — what  are  you  telling  me  there?"  he  said. 

"I  say  that  an  envoy  of  the  Prince  of  Orange  and  another 
from  the  Court  of  Vienna  have  been  conferring  with  the 
royal  favorite  on  the  arrangements  of  the  peace  to  be  soon 
concluded." 

"  Peace  !"  echoed  M  d'Herblay,  with  a  start ;  "  are  we  to 
have  a  treaty  of  peace  signed  ?  Are  yon  in  your  right  senses^ 
my  paor 


50  THE  SON  OF  POKTHOS;  OR, 

'*  Peace  will  be  signed,  my  lord  ;  in  token  of  which  it  il 
settled  mat  the  town  of  Nimwegen  shall  serve  as  meeting, 
place  for  the  plenipotentiaries  who  will  discuss  the  con- 
dititions." 

"  Stay  !  what  about  Spain,  whom  I  represent  ;  it  went  in« 
to  the  coalition  against  Louis  XIV.  only  on  the  urgent  en- 
treaties of  the  Emperor  and  the  Stadtholder — is  not  Spain 
to  be  informed  of  an  envent  of  this  importance  ?" 

"It  is  as  unknown  at  St.  Germain's  as  at  La  Haye  and  Vi- 
enna. Still,  nothing  is  more  certain.  It  is  Holland  that 
is  getting  '•eady  to  be  the  first  to  part  with  the  coalition. 
William  oc  Nassau  has  despatched  a  confidential  agent  to  Paris 
charged  to  present  La  Montespan  a  present  of  ten  thou- 
sand ducats,  if  she  will  persuade  his  Majesty  not  to  be  hard 
on  the  Dutch  republic,  which  has  suffered  the  most  from 
the  war  and  is  "he  most  worn  out." 

"  How  has  the  marchioness  taken  the  offer  ?" 

"  Her  answer  was  that  she  will  do  her  utmost  to  influence 
his  Majesty  into  evacuating  the  hostile  territory,  surrender 
Maestricht  and  pay  half  the  campaign  expenses." 

"  How  about  the  emperor,  what  has  he  asked  and  what 
will  he  give  ?" 

"  He  has  put  an  income  of  ten  thousand  florins  at  the 
favorite's  feet,  in  exchange  for  which  she  had  promised  to 
restore  Philipsburg " 

*'  And  Charles  II.,  my  august  master,  where  is  he  in 
this  carving  and  distributing  ?"  He  spoke  with  a  shade  of 
irony. 

"  Being  isolated,  the  King  of  Spain  will  be  obliged  .c»  .c- 
cept  these  conditions,  and  will  probably  have  to  cede  to 
France,  Burgundy  and  other  places  which " 

"  You  need  not  specify — the  more  you  have  to  eat  the 
more  you  want.  Decidedly,  King  Louis  should  not  have 
taken  the  emblem  of  the  sun — the  crab,  which  with  its  legs 
outspread,  does  not  badly  resemble  the  radiant  orb,  would 
suit  him  better,"  and  the  old  duke,  having  extended  his  fin- 
gers to  illustrate  his  simile,  cracked  the  joints.  "  How  did 
you  learn  all  this?"  he  finally  inquired. 

"  Entirely  devoted  to  us  is  this  maid  of  the  marchioness  s, 
Desoeillets,  and  she  obtained  copies  of  letters  exchanged  be- 
tween her  mistress  and  both  the  envoys,  for  Father  Lack* 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAMIS.  31 

*  Long  live  letter-writing  *  the  letters  fly  afar  in  the  mails, 
fcut  the  copies  remain." 

An  instant's  silence  succeeded,  after  which  the  arch-plot- 
ier  resumed  with  a  wrinkled  brow  and  in  a  cut  tone  : 

"  M.  de  Boislaurier,  what  thus  is  meditated,  must  not 
come  to  pass,  for  it  ought  not  be  so.  I  grant  that  France 
is  my  country  by  birth,  but  Spain  is  that  by  adopting  me. 
There  was  I  welcomed  when  I  was,  as  a  proscribed  fugitive, 
hunted  out  of  Belle-Isle  with  fire  and  sword  under  the  ban  of 
Louis  XIV.  Spain  made  me  duke  of  Almada,  conferred 
the  title  of  Grandee  upon  me,  and  entrusted  me  with  the 
care  of  its  interests  at  the  court  of  St.  Germain's.  I  must 
not  allow  my  second  mother  to  be  humbled,  a  little  as  regards 
myself  and  a  great  deal  as  regards  her.  Spain  is  the  Roman 
Catholic  power  above  all ;  the  lessening  of  its  influence  in 
the  European  concert  will  be  counter  to  our  justifiable  views. 
Reflect,  moreover,  that  the  alliance  of  France  with  the  Dutch 
Calvinists  and  the  German  Lutherans  will  deal  a  terrible 
stroke  to  the  Company  of  Jesus,  to  which  both  of  us  belong, 
while  I  am  the  supreme  chief.  Our  enemy  is  Protestant- 
ism. It  brings  with  it  that  spirit  of  free  scrutiny  which  it 
the  ruin  of  the  Church's  power,  based  as  that  is  upon  the 
faith  of  the  masses.  For  a  long  period  France  has  been  at  the 
head  of  Europe.  If  Protestantism  takes  a  footing  here — 
and  it  has  long  rooted  itself  in  the  Cevennes — if  it  over- 
spreads it  and  finally  gains  the  upper  hand,  then  it  will  hold 
the  empire  of  the  world.  Persecution  will  be  turned  against 
us  ;  the  Sons  of  Loyola  will  be  dislodged,  obliged  to  disap- 
pear under  shame,  hunted  and  tracked- — glad  to  take  ref- 
uge in  the  exile  of  Calvin,  the  dungeon  of  Luther  and  even 
the  pyre  of  Huss  and  Dolet " 

"Heaven  knows  that  I  share  your  ideas,"  observed  the 
messenger,  "and  the  same  apprehensions  ;  but  how  are  we 
to  prevent  it  ?" 

The  ex-Musketeer  gave  one  of  those  smiles  which  had 
bewitched  while  they  perplexed  "Marie  Michon,"  half  a  cen- 
tury ago. 

"Am  I  not  in  the  battle's  van  ?"  he  rejoined.  "  All  is  well, 
since  you  have  apprised  me.  The  old  saw  asserts  that  a  man 
forewarned  is  fore-armed.  Unarmed,  I  should  wage  a  cruel 
war;  armed,  I  am  a  thousand  strong  in  my  single  charge.  Is  it 
forgotten  how  I  coped  with  Cardinal  Richelieu,  who  was  a 


92  THE  SON  OF  PORTffOS;  0JT. 

great  man,  and  overcame Mazar in,  who  was  a  great  politician? 
I  grant  that,  in  those  times,  I  had  such  aids  as  are  lacking  to 
me  now."  And  a  shadow  clouded  the  brow  of  him  who  had 
accomplished  such  elevated  aims  when  planned  and  exe- 
cuted in  the  company  of  the  three  Musketeers  and  the 
Queen's  Guardsman,  d'Artagnan.  "Still,  it  was  1  alone  who 
drew  from  the  dungeon  where  state  reasons  consigned  him — 
the  twin  brother  of  the  reigning  sovereign,  that  second  son  of 
Anne  of  Austria  whom  I  substituted  upon  the  throne  of  France 
for  the  royal  lover  of  La  Valliere,  Fontanges  and  Montespan. 
The  enterprise  was  incredible,  unheard-of  and  senseless,  if 
you  like,  but  it  would  have  completely  succeeded  had  it  not 
been  wrecked  against  the  honor  of  a  sublime  idiot — Fouquet. 
Well,  he  is  expiating  to-day  in  the  Castle  of  Pignerol  his  fool- 
ish grandeur  of  mind  and  imbecile  loyalty,  and  the  true  prince, 
who  failed  me  at  the  right  moment,  is  also  expiating  his  weak- 
ness in  an  iron  Mask,  if  he  has  not  been  done  to  death  in 
some  obscure  fortress.  Let  them  rot  who  broke  when  they 
were  my  valuable  tools.  Ah,  believe  me,  Boislaurier,  when  one 
has  undertaken  tasks  of  such  magnitude,  and  measured  them- 
selves with  such  adversaries — he  has  no  dread  or  care  about 
a  court  doll.** 

For  want  of  breath  the  ex-revolutionist,  once  Bishop  of 
Vannes,  and  eternal  intriguer,  stopped  in  this  recurrence  of 
youthful  ardor.  It  was  after  a  pause  that  he  continued,  in 
a  calmer  and  more  leisurely  mood: 

"Poor  Fontanges  would  have  been  a  precious  tool  to  us, 
and  her  lack  of  intelligence  would  have  served  us  better  than 
all  the  wit  of  all  the  Mortemarts.  But  we  must  replace  the 
instrument  out  of  repair  with  another.  We  have  to  drive 
out  the  ally  of  the  Emperor  and  William  ot  Nassau.  We  need 
stoop  to  have  recourse  to  the  criminal  hand  which  distil* 
poisons  and  the  more  guilty  one  which  pours  it  out."  He 
said  this  without  a  twinge  of  conscience,  for  he  may  not  have 
clearly  remembered  how  the  Franciscan  died  from  the  effects 
of  the  potion  administered  at  Fontainebleau;  and  yet  Aramia 
obtained  the  Generalship  of  the  Jesuits  all  the  speedier 
through  that  draft.  "We  will  defeat  the  marchioness  with 
her  own  weapons,  by  opposing  to  her  in  the  King's  heart  a 
woman  with  charms  more  intoxicating,  subjugating  and  fas- 
cinating. This  creature,  more  of  an  enchantress,  will  be  no 
IMS  docile  than  Fontanges,  and  davoted  to  oar  plans.1' 


THE  DE*TH  OF  ARAMIS.  35 

''The  Reverend  Father  Lachaise  and  I  have  been  think- 
ing this  over  ;  but  it  is  not  so  easy  a  matter  as  may  be  fancied. 
.Consider,  indeed,  that  all  the  court  beauties  have  already 
tried  to  captivate  the  capricious  monarch  without  being 
able  to  rule  him  in  any  appreciable  degree  ;  the  reign  of  such, 
»s  Soubise  and  Ludre  lasted  only  for  a  short  while " 

"Hence,  I  am  not  going  to  the  court  to  find  this  Circe." 

"Where  else  is  there  a  woman  to  witch  a  king  ?" 

"I  hardly  know  as  yet;  but  when  I  must  find  an  object, 
test  easy  about  its  forthcoming." 

''Heaven  hear  your  lordship  !" 

The  King  of  kings  listens  also  to  the  lowest  of  the  sub- 
jects. It  is  not  for  the  want  of  praying  heartily  that  I  shall 
fail  to  be  heard."  So  spake  Aramis,  with  his  smile  like  the 
Sphynx's.  "In  the  meantime,  let  us  dine  without  misgiving," 
he  added  in  a  tone  become  light,  "  and  happily,  here  comes 
our  host  to  announce  that  it  is  on  the  table." 

It  was  Hermelin,  indeed,  who  informed  them  with  many 
cringes,  that  he  desired  to  know  if  they  wanted  him  to  set 
their  table  in  the  general  dining-room. 

"  Why  not  ?" 

"Only  because  the  travelers  by  the  Nantes  coach  will  ex- 
pect to  occupy  the  other  table  under  the  window." 

"Pooh  !  what  matters  ?  good  company  does  not  annoy 
Us,"  replied  the  old  noble  kindly. 

A  few  minutes  subsequently,  the  jingling  of  bells  and 
trampling  of  hoofs,  with  the  rumble  of  wheels,  betokened 
that  the  coach,  delayed  by  the  highwaymen,  had  at  last  ar- 
rived. 


CHAPTER  V. 

WANTED  A  QtfEEN— OF  THE  LEFT  HAND. 

THE  heavy  conveyance  lumbered  up,  presenting  an  ex- 
ample of  the  sage's  precept  :  "  Make  haste  slowly."  Al- 
most instantly,  the  passengers  made  an  irruption  into  the 
dining-hall.  Last  of  all  entered  the  young  squire  as  he  had 
stopped  in  the  kitchen  \o  apply  to  his  wounds  that  simple 
cure  of  salt  and  water  which,  perhaps,  after  all,  was  as  heal- 
ing as  the  famous  balm  which  Madame  d'Artagnan  had  o£ 


34  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  ORt 

the  gipsy.  On  the  threshold  he  began  to  look  for  some 
one.  Perceiving  M.  d'Herblay,  beginning  with  the  soup,  he 
quickly  walked  up  to  him,  and  questioned  him,  doffing  his 
hat  in  his  hand  : 

"Monsieur,  will  you  kindly  inform  me  how  I  am  to  act 
to  see  Mtille.  du  Tremblay  ?" 

"The  lady  so  named,  as  appears  to  be  the  case,"  returned 
the  chevalier,  "reposes  at  present,  in  perfect  health,  I  sup- 
pose, and  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  she  will  shortly  be 
able  to  resume  her  journey." 

*'I  can  but  thank  you,  and  heartily,"  with  embarrassment 
the  young  man  pursued.  "  Allow  me  to  present  my  most 
humble  and  sincere  apologies  for — for — "  he  faltered,  "a 
bad  thought  that  I  entertained." 

The  duke's  smile  became  mild  and  friendly. 

"I  understand,"  he  made  answer  with  a  little  slyness;  you 
imagined  that  I  had  eloped  with  your  traveling-compan- 
ion——" 

Joel  looked  down,  as  the  old  gentleman  continued  with  a 
shake  of  his  head  : 

"Oh,  youth,  youth  I  mother  of  all  follies!  still  you  need 
merely  to  have  glanced  at  my  white  hairs  to  be  sure  how 
unreasonable  and  unseemly  was  your  supposition." 

"Say,  stupid,  ridiculous,  odious  !"  exclaimed  our  hero, 
blushing  wi'.h  shame  ;  "you  see  me  in  consequence  so  con- 
fused that  I  cannot  express  my  confusion  ;  but  I  am  fresh 
from  the  country,  a  wild  rustic.  But,  by  the  sword  of  my 
father  !  I  and  Falsehood  have  never  walked  through  the  same 
door." 

The  old  lord  made  the  gesture  of  patting  him  on  the 
•houlder  affectionately  and  somewhat  as  a  bishop  might  dp. 

''Long  ago  I  forgave  you  for  that.  Have  your  dinner  m 
peace,  and  sin  no  more  by  thinking  evil  of  your  neighbor.* 

*'  Dinner  ?  Faith,  i  was  not  thinking  of  such  a  thing— 
I  had  such  a  weight  on  my  heart." 

But  it  would  appear  that  the  weight  was  suddenly  remov- 
ed, for  when  the  youth  joined  his  traveling-companions  who 
had  begun  on  the  meal  with  a  quarter  of  an  hour's  start^  ht 
made  out  to  recover  the  lost  lime. 

Boislaurier  called  his  friend's  attention  to  the  fact. 

"  Yes  ;  he  has  a  hearty  appetite.  It  reminds  me  of  my  poof 
*orthos  I"  Then,  raising  his  voice,  as  if  to  dispel  the  mem- 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  35 

ory  of  which  he  was  reminded,  he  addressed  the  young  Bre- 
ton at  one  table  from  the  other,  as  he  was  demolishing  a  rab- 
bit pie : 

"My  young  friend,  do  you  mind  telling  us  in  the  course 
of  what  occurrence  you  received  a  wound  or  two,  and  what 
was  the  cause  of  the  swooning  fit  of  your  fellow  traveler?'' 

"Willingly,  since  you  wish  so-'' 

And  Joel  related  the  adventure  when  the  coach  was 
stopped  by  the  Colonel  of  Royal  Marauders  and  his  troop, 
with  the  result.  He  told  it  with  a  swing  and  gusto,  but 
with  a  reserve  as  regarded  his  behavior  which  earned  the 
compliments  of  the  two  gentlemen  of  the  audience. 

When  he  ended,  M.  de  Boislaurier  leaned  towards  his 
Companion  and  remarked  : 

"  Do  you  not  agree  with  me  that  this  youth  expresses  him- 
self most  fitly  and  in  a  manner  superior  in  all  points  to  the 
peasants  whose  dress  he  has  assumed?" 

"  Yes,"  responded  the  elder  lord  :  "  he  is  some  younger 
son  out  of  Brittany,  a  hobbledehoy  or  farming  gentleman, 
going  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  capital,  with  a  good  pros- 
pect of  doing  it,  too,  to  my  mind.  A  good  appearance,  a  well 
balanced  tongue,  coolness,  and  self-control " 

«  And  built  like  Milo  of  old '' 

"  Plainly  ;  built  to  stop  millstones  with  his  finger  laid 
on  it,  like  Bernard  del  Carpio,  or  to  heave  a  boulder  like  a 
Titan " 

A  cloud  shaded  the  face  of  Aramis  :  he  leaned  his  elbow 
on  the  board,  rested  his  chin  in  the  hollow  of  the  hand,  and 
mused.  The  aspect  of  the  stout  young  squire,  the  memory 
he  had  himself  invoked  by  his  comparison — they  brought 
back  the  image  of  Porthos,  as  his  name  alone  had  done. 
Not  merely  Porthos  as  he  had  seen  him  perish  trying  to  up- 
hold the  immense  mass  of  the  rocks  of  the  Locmaria  cavern 
after  the  explosion  which  the  strong  man  had  occasioned 
by  hurling  a  keg  of  gunpowder  among  their  pursuers,  not 
the  crushed  giant — but  the  Porthos  of  the  happy  days  of 
their  feast  of  arms.  Porthos  colossal  Musketeer,  active,  im- 
posing, magnificent  in  his  lifeguard  uniform  and  the  gold- 
embroidered  baldrick  which  glittered  like  goldfish  scales  in 
the^sunshine  ;  Porthos  the  lady-killer  who  had  courted  "My- 
Lady"  to  provoke  the  proctor's  widow  into  wedding  him  and 
bestowing  her  late  lamented  husband's  wealth  upon 


56  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

the  Porthos  who  fought  so  boldly  and  whose  strength  ol 
hand  could  make  a  hoop  of  an  iron  bar  and"  a  corkscrew  of  a 
fire  shovel  handle.  And  the  Porthos,  older  but  still  sturdy, 
jwiio  won  the  admiration  or  tne  King  at  the  royal  table,  as 
Well  as  of  tae  courtiers,  by  tucking  away  lamb  chops,  uueas- 
ants  and  game  patties. 

But  ever  the  simple,  fearless-hearted  Porthos,  true,  smil- 
ing, invincible,  disinterested,  ready  to  lay  down  his  purse  of 
life  for  others  as  though  it  was  for  that  heaven  had  given 
him  strength  and  riches:  faithful  to  the  motto  of  the  Four 
Friends,  he  had  fallen,  crushed  by  an  enormous  rock,  on  the 
Breton  beach  where  the  salty  breeze  from  the  ocean  waved 
the  heather  above  his  bones. 

The  repast  of  the  two  gentlemen  finished  in  silence,  for 
Aramis  was  in  reverie,  and  the  other  respected  it.  Little 
more  talk  went  on  at  the  other  board,  where  all  ate  glutton- 
ously. Was  not  Faquedru,  who  was  teasting  in  the  kitchen, 
likely  at  any  moment  to  make  his  appearance  to  call  out  the 
traditional  words  :  *'A11  aboard,  gentlemen  !  the  delight  of 
innkeepers  but  the  misery  of  famished,  travelers,  still  used 
by  our  railroad  conductors  at  way-stations. 

"Have  the  horses  put  to,"  said  the  old  duke  to  the  host, 
**Do  you  not  think  we  had  better  start — for  you  have  ac- 
cepted a  seat  in  my  carriage?" 

His  friend  was  fully  of  his  opinion.  At  this  juncture,  Ba 
*in,  the  majordomo,  waddled  in  upon  the  threshold  to  an- 
nounce: 

*'MdlIe.  du  Tremblay  desires  to  present  her  duty  to  the 
Chevalier." 

Behind  him  entered  Aurore,  still  pale  and  somewhat  agita- 
ted. With  a  noble  and  graceful  step  she  went  towards  M. 
d'Herblay. 

"Monsieur,"  she  said,  "I  have  been  warned  that  you  are 
about  to  depart,  and  I  hope  that  you  have  not  thought  that  I 
ehould  see  you  go  without  thanking  you  from  the  bottom  of 
»y  soul  for  the  attentions  I  owe  to  you,  and  the  care  given 
without  your  knowing  who  I  am." 

The  duke  had  risen  courteously  to  greet  her. 

"Lady/*  he  responded,  "I  am  too  well  repaid  for  services* 
of  which  you  certainlv  enlarge  the  value,  by  my  satisfaction 
fa  seeing  that  they  have  been  of  some  use.  I  suppose  that 
you  no  longer  suffer  from  your  indisposition?" 

"Thank  heaven  !  and  vourseK  ' 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  yf 

do  not  dwell  upon  that  point :  it  would  vex  me  and 
/  can  crave  a  truce  on  account  of  the  service  rendered ** 

"I  keep  silent,  then,  since  you  require  it ;  but  the  grat- 
itude which  you  check  upon  my  lips,  will  return  to  my  heart 
to  be  there  preserved,  fresh  and  sincere — — " 

Turning  to  the  Breton  squire,  who  was  looking  at  her  and 
listening  to  her  as  one  regards  a  saint,  she  continued  : 

"  The  same  as  that  I  cherish  for  this  gentleman  who  de- 
fended and  protected  me." 

This  sentence  fell  like  a  strain  of  celestial  music  on  the 
youth's  charmed  ear.  He  longed  to  find  some  eloquent  re- 
ply, choice  and  meet,  but  all  that  issued  from  his  tremulous 
lips,  from  the  breast  brimful  of  delight,  was  this  raeaninglesf 
exclamation  : 

"It  is  I  who  -uiank  you,  lady  !" 

While  Aurore  was  speaking,  Aramis  had  studied  her  with 
marked  attention.  Perceiving  it,  she  felt  ill  at  ease  and,  courte- 
sying  again,  she  took  a  step  in  retreat ;  but  the  old  lord  re- 
tained her  with  a  gesture. 

"Permit  me  one  question — your  name,  which  I  but  now 
beard,  is  far  from  being  unknown  to  me.  Are  you  by  chance 
any  kin  to  the  Marquis  du  Tremblay,  who  was  governor  of 
the  Bastille,  prior  to  M.  de  Baisemeaux,  and——" 

"I  am  his  grand-niece,  sir." 

"And  Grand  Huntsman  under  the  previous  King?" 

"The  same." 

"An  excellent  gentleman,  with  whom  I  had  a  pleasant 
acquaintance — I  mean,  in  the  latter  capacity — my  visits  to 
the  Bastille  not  being  in  the  capacity  of  his  guest,"  pro- 
ceeded Aramis  with  a  singular  smile  which  would  be  only 
comprehended  by  those  who  had  been  informed,  as  the 
readers  of  our  "Man  in  the  Iron  Mask,"  of  his  inteviews 
with  the  governor  of  that  state  prison  of  lugubrious  memory. 
'Let  me  see,  the  marquis  married  a  foreign  lady,  I  believe  ?** 

"A  Hungarian,  indeed,  the  widow  of  a  magnate  of  Pesth 
province." 

"Who  brought  him  a  large  fortune  as  her  marriage  por- 
tion ?" 

"The  very  fortune,"  replied  Aurore,  with  a  melancholy 
•mile,  "which  is  the  cause  of  my  journey  to  Pans." 

"How  does  this  come  about  ?'' 

"My  grand-uncle  died  some  eighteen  months  ago— «^* 

"My  poor,  dear  friend  !'" 


38  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

"He  died  without  children  and  leaving  no  will  ;  his  wife 
had  preceded  him  to  the  tomb,  and  his  inheritance  would 
have  come  without  contest  to  my  brother  and  sister  and  self, 
as  direct  heirs,  were  it  not  disputed  by  two  sons  by  the  first 
marriage.  They  assert  that  their  mother  gave  her  second 
husband  the  property  only  for  use  during  life,  when  it  was 
to  revert  to  her  descendants  in  Hungary.  This  leads  to  a 
lawsuit,  and  I  am  proceeding  to  town  to  prosecute  the  claim, 
consult  lawyers  and  solicit  the  judges." 

"You  are  undertaking  an  arduous  task." 

"It  must  be.  But  do  not  believe,  Monsieur,  that  it  ia 
greed  that  moves  me — it  is  hard  necessity.  My  parents,  whom 
heaven  removed  at  a  brief  interval,  left  me  nothing  but  an 
honored  and  honorable  name.  Were  I  alone  in  the  world, 
Heaven  knows  that  I  should  be  content  with  that;  for  penni- 
less girls  of  noble  birth,  there  is  always  the  nunnery  open 

"Do  not  say  that  you  would  enshroud  so  much  charm  in 
the  veil  in  a  cloister  !" 

The  speaker  had  the  air  of  not  having  heard  the  compli- 
wentary  interjection,  for  she  continued  gravely  and  calmly  : 

"But  I  have  the  future  of  others  to  look  after  :  my  young 
brother's  and  sister's.  They  must  be  reared  as  beseems 
their  station  in  life  ;  and  the  young  man  launched  properly 
upon  his  career,  while  the  girl  is  supplied  with  a  dowry.  I 
did  not  hesitate,  but  collected  our  resources  of  which  I  made 
two  parts  :  one,  the  least,  luckily,  was  to  defray  my 
traveling  expenses  ^  that  I  was  robbed  of  a  while  since;  the 
other,  preserved  to  me  by  this  gentleman's  help" — she  indi- 
cated Joel — *'is  intended  to  pay  the  children's  board  in  the 
school  where  they  will  await  the  result  of  the  case.  Heaven 
grant  that  it  will  not  be  long  coming,  and  will  be  favorable 
to  us  !" 

"Mademoiselle,"  insinuated  the  chevalier,  "I  am  rich,  and 
it  would  be  according  me  a  signal  favor  if " 

A  flash  darted  from  the  full  eyes  ,  her  brow  bent,  and  all 
her  loveliness  assumed  a  bitter  and  fierce  look. 

"Sir,"  she  retorted,  in  a  tone  animated  by  her  wounded 
pride,  "I  trust  that  you  are  not  going  to  offer  me  your 
pur»e  ?"  But,  instantly  recovering  herself,  she  softened  her 
air,  and  said  with  emotion,  "pardon  me  !  I  forgot  what  I 
owe  to  you,  and  poverty  is  so  sensitive.  I  am  not  a  beggar." 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAM  IS.  39 

•he  protested  with  forced  liveliness.  "In  Paris,  I  have  an 
old  kins  woman  who  will  welcome  like  her  own  child,  and 
she  will  not  refuse  to  share  her  all  with  me,  at  need." 

In  the  silence  which  ensued,  Bazin's  master  assumed  a 
paternal  air. 

"My  dear  young  lady,"  he  broke  it  by  saying,  "It  is  I  who 
must  beg  pardon,  if  I  have  offended,  unawares,  by  an  offer 
which  my  three-score  and  ten  years  should  authorize  me  to 
make.  I  do  not  dwell  on  it.  But  if  there  be  one  thing 
which  I  have  the  right  to  offer  and  you  have  the  right  to  ac- 
cept, from  your  being  the  head  of  a  family,  it  is  the  support 
of  all  honorable  men.  Come,  towards  the  winning  of  this 
lawsuit,  do  you  know  anybody  in  Paris  ?  have  you  not  rel- 
atives, protection  and  influence  there  ?" 

Sadly  the  young  litigant  shook  her  head. 

Alas,  my  lord,  this  is  the  first  time  I  have  been  to  town, 
and  I  do  not  know  a  living  soul  there,  save  the  old  relative 
whom  I  have  mentioned.  The  unfortunate  have  no  friends. 
To  triumph  over  my  adversaries,  I  rely  §olely  upon  the  right- 
eousness of  my  cause  and  the  help  of  Providence " 

"I,  too,  rely  on  such  aids;  nevertheless,  had  you  more  life 
experience,  you  would  know  that  all  the  decress  of  justice 
lire  not  always  dictated  by  equity  and  right,  but,  more  often, 
|>y  means  of  engaging  the  powerful  intermediaries  which 
pleaders  know  how  to  employ." 

"The  God  of  the  fatherless  have  mercy  on  us  !" 

"Well,  I  have  some  credit."  M.  de  Boislaurier,  hid  * 
(faint  smile.  "Make  use  of  me  without  scruples  and  restric- 
tions. The  Chevalier  d'Herblay  will  be  happy  to  serve  you 
with  all  his  zeal  and  all  his  power." 

"  But,  really,  how  do  I  deserve " 

"It  is  enough  to  see  you,  to  be  interested  in  you.  By  the 
way,  here  is  M.  de  Boislaurier,  whom  I  have  the  favor  to 

present  to  you "  The    gentleman   and  the  young  lady  ex* 

changed  salutations.  "  I  have  no  doubt  that  he  agrees  with 
me?" 

"  Certainly,'*  rejoined  the  other,  "  I  am  quite  won  by  the 
lady." 

M.  de  Boislaurier  is  attatched  to  the  household  of  his 
Royal  Highness  the  Dauphin,  a  pious  Prince  of  austere  man- 
ners," proceeded  the  chevalier;  "  when  you  knock  at  M.  de 
Boislaurier's  door,  you  knock  at  mine.  Besides."  he  added 


40  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

good  jiumoredly,  "  we  do  not  attempt  to  impose  our  services  ; 
you  are  perfectly  free  do  decline  them.  Only,  keep  the  chil- 
dren in  mind,  as  you  were  just  saying " 

'*  The  carriage  of  my  lord  stops  the  way,"  reported  the 
landlord. 

At  the  same  time  the  coachdriver's  voice  was  heard  out- 
«ide,  shouting  the  stereotyped  formula  :  "  Passengers  by  the 
stage-coach,  take  your  places  !" 

The  ex-Musketeer  bowed  to  the  young  lady  as  he  was 
wont  to  do  to  the  queens  when  he  was  a  gallant,  and  said  : 

"  I  hope  we  shall  meet  again,  my  child.  My  age  permits 
me  to  give  you  this  title.  Remember  that  you  are  not  with- 
out devoted  friends.  Use  them — too  often  rather  than 
merely  wisely,  as  the  only  means  of  proving  to  them  that 
you  are  aware  of  the  interest  they  take  in  you." 

The  movement  was  general  to  leave  the  room,  and  Joel 
took  advantage  of  it  to  approach  Aurore.  She  held  out 
both  hands  to  him  with  an  outburst  of  gratitude,  saying  : 
*  Wounded — you  were  wounded  \  and  in  throwing  your- 
self before  me  to  save  me  from  the  shot  aimed  at  me.  Now, 
you  must  not  be  ill  friends  with  me  because  I  did  not  go  and 
ask  how  you  were  at  once,"  she  went  on  with  a  forced  famil- 
iarity ;  "but  we  are  not  going  yet  to  part,  you  know,  but  go 
on  to  Paris  together  so  that  I  shall  have  on  the  journey  full 
leisure  to  overwhelm  you  with  my  thankfulness." 

Meanwhile  the  chevalier  was  directing  his  steps  to  his  car- 
iage,  on  the  arm.  of  his  friend. 

"What  do  you  think  of  that  girl  ?"  inquired  the  former. 

"  I  say  admirably  fair,"  replied  the  gentleman,  turning 
to  have  another  look  at  the  young  lady,  who  was  preparing 
to  climb  into  the  coach,  assisted  by  the  radiant  Joel. 

His  companion's  smile  was  a  reflection  of  that  which  had 
fascinated  the  Duchess  de  Chevreuse. 

"  Salute  her  with  lowliness,"  said  he,  "as  the  rising  star 

is  saluted as  all  the  court  will  hail  her  before  a  great  wnile  ; 

for  the  country  lass,  whose  existence  is  not  dreatnpt  of  by 
Paris  and  St.  Germain,  is  the  woman  whom  I  have  chosen  to 
bring  our  projects  to  the  desired  goal.  She  will  succeed 
Montespan  dethroned  :  she  will  be  the  future  Queen  of 

France — by  the  left  hand the  hand  on  the  heartside,  re- 

aaember  ^and,  conseauently ,  the  real  sovereign  of  France)" 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAMIS.  41 

CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  SWORD  FROM  THE  GIANT'S  GRAVE, 

Let  us  go  back  to  the  period  when  Fouquet,  the  Lord 
High  Treasurer  in  fact,  of  France,  owned  Belle-Isle-in-the- 
Sea.  The  estate  is  six  leagues  long  by  six  in  breadth  and  it 
was  a  fief  of  the  Retz  family,  to  whom  we  owe  the  human 
monster  who  comes  down  to  us  through  the  nursery  as  the 
original  of  "Bluebeard."  After  the  property  had  the  title  of 
marquis  conferred  the  holder  on  by  Charles  IX.,  it  passed  into 
the  Financial  Seperintendent's  hands.  It  included  three  ham- 
lets; Bangos,  Saugen  and  Locmaria,  the  latter  having  some 
celebrity  in  the  petty  ports  of  Brittany  for  the  prettiness, 
gaiety  and  coquetry  of  its  lasses. 

The  prettiest,  most  promising  and  buxon  of  all  the  girls, 
but  the  least  coquettish,  was  then  Corentine  Lebrenn,  god- 
daughter of  Master  Plouer,  a  sub-officer  of  the  Marines  who 
had  become  syndic  of  the  guild  of  fishermen. 

Corentine  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  her  treses  of 
deep  yellow  shone  in  the  sunbeams  like  gold.  She  did  not 
know  what  to  do  with  them,  they  were  so  abundant  about 
her  shapely  head.  Her  large,  carefree  eyes  had  smiles  in 
them  like  those  on  her  vermillion  lips.  Together  with  nat- 
ural charms,  she  was  the  best  "catch'*  in  the  island.  Her 
parents  were  hard-working,  saving  and  intelligent  working 
folk,  who  had  toiled  all  their  life  that  their  only  darling 
should  be  sheltered  from  care.  They  died  at  the  task,  but 
left  her  a  nice  farm  and  land  that  would  sell  well. 

You  may  imagine  how  closely  this  prize  was  pursued 
by  the  young  men,  not  only  on  the  island,  but  along  the 
coast.  Quite  a  retinue  followed  at  her  heels  when  she  went 
to  sell  the  farm  produce  at  the  markets;  she  was  so  enticing 
in  her  hooded  cloak  and  short  plush  petticoat,  and  with  her 
rounded  ankle  disappearing  in  natty  little  shoes.  The  young 
blades,  too,  formed  a  double  row  when  she  came  out  of 
church  on  Sunday,  for  then  she  wore  a  rich  lace  headdress, 
a  gold  cross,  a  velvet  bodice  worked  with  gold  thread, 
clocked  stockings  and  silver  buckles  to  her  shoes.  But 
she  little  troubled  herself  about  sweethearts 


•  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  VR. 

She  had  enough  to  do  in  attending  to  the  farm  and  hou«t 
matters,  the  harvest,  the  fowls,  the  stables,  her  almsgiving 
and  her  songs.  Her  life  passed  on,  sweet  and  peaceful.  Her 
limpid  gaze  was  never  dimmed  with  tears.  Around  her  shone 
a  halo  of  glee.  All  who  came  near  her  were  the  happier  for 
her  beaming  gladness. 

At  this  time,  M.  Fouquet  determined  to  fortify  his  Isle-in- 
the-Sea.  Wherefore  f  nobody  clearly  knew.  It  was  his 
good  pleasure,  and  his  serfs  asked  no  farther.  The  Dukes 
of  Burgundy  no  longer  reigned  over  the  place  but  the  lords 
of  tiie  manor  ruled  in  their  stead.  Superintendent  Fouquet 
was  the  most  powerful  and  wealthiest,  and  consequently  the 
most  popular  of  them  all. 

He  sent  to  Belle-Isle  an  engineer  and  workmen.  The  for- 
mer was  a  cavalier  of  high  stature  and  robust  mien,  who  wore 
a  doublet  laced  with  gold,  and  a  hat  covered  with  plumes. 
All  the  female  sex  of  Locmaria  remarked  his  splendid  ap- 
pearance and  his  winning  air. 

Every  evening  the  girl-farmer  went  to  the  churchyard 
where  her  parents  reposed  to  see  to  the  flowers  on  their 
graves  and  kneel  in  prayer. 

It  was  in  returning  from  this  pious  pilgrimage  thatCoren- 
tine  was  waylaid  by  a  gang  of  intoxicated  soldiers  and  stone- 
cutters, at  nightfall.  In  a  moment  they  surrounded  her,  and 
dancing  drunkenly,  insisted  on  her  sharing  tne  bottle  and  join- 
ing in  their  gambols.  In  despair  she  screamed  for  help, 
though  knowing  that  the  new-comers,  both  workingmen  and 
soldiers,  inspired  great  terror  in  the  islanders.  A  man  ran  up 
in  strides  like  one  on  stilts;  he  knocked  the  revelers  about 
like  ninepins  and  forced  them  to  flee  as  much  with  his  prowess 
as  by  his  post  ot  authority  over  them.  It  was  the  chief  military 
engineer  He  escorted  her  home,  although  he  had  so  effect- 
ually driven  molestation  afar.  The  champion  was  not  so 
much  of  a  Parisian  courtier  as  she  took  him  to  be,  and  with 
the  same  rustic  frankness  which  she  showed  in  recounting  her 
name  and  position,  he  related  that  he  was  not  what  they 
took  him  for  He  was  he  said,  but  a  Baron  at  present,  but 
at  the  close  01  the  honor  of  dining  with  the  King,  it  was 
intimated  that  lie  might  look  forward  to  be  made  a  duke 
and  peer  of  tne  realm  In  fact  said  the  naive  Porthos,  for 
our  readers  will  have  divined  who  this  engineer  was  who 
felled  men  like  puppets,  his  mission  in  Belle-Isle  was  not 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAM  IS.  43 

ancohnected  with  the  next  step  to  his  rising  to  the  rank,  for 
the  fortification  was  on  behalf  of  the  monarch,  who  had  no 
dearer  friend  than  Fouquet. 

The  Baron  du  Vallon,  we  know,  was  a  widower,  and  ever 
impressionable:  the  maid  of  the  farm  had  never  seen  such  a 
demigod,  and  they  fell  simultaneously  in  love. 

They  met  again  and  again,  and  the  love  on  Corentine's 
part  was  so  pure,  elevated  into  idolatry,  and  impressive,  that 
the  conqueror,  who  had  perhaps  no  other  defect  than  a  too 
free  tongue,  never  boasted  of  the  conquest  to  Aramis;  still 
less  to  d'Artagnan,  who,  since  the  far-reaching  and  fatal  re- 
sult of  his  false-play  with  My  Lady,  was  a  model  of  discre- 
tion in  gallantry. 

As  usual,  at  his  last  parting,  Porthos  had  promised  to  come 
again.  He  never  came.  But  the  siege  terminated  by  the 
island  rebels  surrendering  to  the  royalists  by  command  of 
their  leader,  the  Bishop  of  Vannes.  Corentine  did  not  know 
that  Porthos,(for  she  did  not  remember  her  lover  by  the  titles 
wnich  he  held  and  which  he  said  were  due  him,)  had  not 
suared  the  flight  of  his  friend  Aramis,  but  had  been  stayed 
by  death  on  the  beach  of  Locmaria. 

One  person  could  have  informed  her  how  her  beloved  had 
perished.  It  was  her  god-father,  Plouer,  whom  we  have  seen 
valiantly  assisting  the  fugitives  to  sail  from  the  island.  Un- 
fortunately there  was  nobody  whom  the  poor  girl  so  persis- 
tently shunned  as  the  syndic  of  the  fishers,  for  she  had  her 
shame  and  her  sin  to  conceal  from  all — she  was  on  the  eve 
of  becoming  a  mother. 

She  fled  to  the  mainland,  where  she  had  an  old  relative 
living  by  Quimper.  There  she  gave  birth  to  a  son.  It  was 
during  her  absence  from  home,  and  giving  an  excuse  for  it, 
that  occurred  the  arrest  of  Minister  Fouquet,  and  his  transfer- 
ence to  Pignerol  Castle,  and  the  occupation  of  the  island  by 
the  King's  troops.  Only  a  confused  account  of  these  import- 
ant events  reached  Corentine  in  her  retreat.  Her  distress 
put  her  life  and  her  reason  in  danger.  When  she  returned 
to  the  farm,  she  had  lost  her  virginal  smile,  her  cheek  was 
pale,  and  her  eyes  had  learnt  how  to  weep.  Nevertheless 
she  was  happy  in  a  way,  in  her  misfortune  and  her  state  of 
outcast.  For  her  child  remained  by  her — dear  little  Joel. 

Corentine  was  the  Mother,  to  the  point  of  delirious  idol- 
atry. In  pagan  times,  comparing  her  lover  with  ordinary—* 


44  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR. 

nay,  remarkable  men,  she  would  have  believed  that  a  aemr- 
god  had  condescended  to  love  her.  In  the  little  Porthos,  she 
worshipped  the  hero  whom  she  had  suddenly  met  and  so  mys- 
teriously lost.  She  knew  that  she  had  been  loved,  and  siie 
believed  that  she  still  was  loved  by  the  handsome  nobleman 
whose  manly  bearing,  showy  uniform  and  plumed  hat,  had 
struck  her  with  surprise  and  fascinated  her.  The  conquest 
was  still  wonder  to  her.  She  knew  only  enough  of  him  to 
deplore  the  loss.  She  was  not  ignorant  of  all  that  divided 

them rank,  birth  and  fortune.  Would  she  ever  see  him 

again?  Of  a  certainty  she  yearned  to  do  so,  and  with  all  the 
ardor  of  her  soul  :  but  not  perhaps  for  her  own  sake — for 
the  innocent  creature  who  slumbered  in  its  cradle,  calm  and 
rosy. 

In  bringing  this  child  to  Locmaria  with  her,  she  had  braved 
the  local  indignation.  As  soon  as  the  excitement  of  the  war, 
as  they  called  the  affair,  had  cooled  down,  the  gossips  took 
up  the  disgrace  of  the  rich  girl-farmer.  How  they  did  chat- 
ter to  revenge  themselves  on  her  who  had  been  so  envied. 
How  they  overwhelmed  the  unmarried  mother  with  brut"* 
humiliation,  coarse  disdain,  and  pretended  compassion,  more 
cruel  and  humiliating  still  !  How  the  swains  whom  she  had 
jilted  and  the  maids  whom  she  had  eclipsed  affected  to  draw 
aside  from  her  with  disgust,  tempered  with  sneering  laughs 
and  cutting  remarks  \  The  unhappy  one  supported  all  with- 
out complaint.  Had  she  not  her  treasure  to  Console  her,  in 
her  solitude,  for  the  scorn  of  the  gross  multitude  ?  Its  fresh 
lips  called  for  the  kiss,  while  the  sweet  breath  of  the  infantile 
was  wafted  through  them. 

In  the  midst  of  this  isolation  to  defend  his  mother  from 
the  public  scorn,  little  Joel  grew  up.  With  time  he  became 
a  youth  of  stature  and  strength  far  above  those  of  the  lads 
of  his  own  years.  The  parish  priest  of  Locmaria,  good 
Father  Keravel,  had  forgiven  the  sinning  mother  on  seeing 
how  she  had  redoubled  her  charity  and  with  what  affection 
she  surrounded  the  son  oC  shame,  and  he  had  consented  to 
teach  the  youngster.  He  did  teach  him  to  read,  write  and 
cipher.  And  a  smattering  of  spelling  and  a  little  Latin ; 
but  the  highest  nobles  no  longer  emulated  Fouquet  in  ''liv- 
ing up*'  to  the  court  of  poets  and  men  of  letters  which  he 
had  fostered.  But  it  was  undoubted  that  the  young  Porthos 
mounted  the  wildest  of  the  island  ponies  barebacked,  so  that 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  45 

he  had  won  the  fame  of  being  a  centaur  :  that  he  could  run 
down  a  hare  on  his  own  feet  and  could  take  the  eggs  from  the 
highest  nest.  And  lastly,  he  could  fire  off  a  musket  with  as 
good  a  success  as  old  Plouer,  who  had  won  the  reputation  of 
killing  nineteen  woodcock  out  or  twenty, 

We  hastened  to  say  that  the  old  marine  corporaljhad  not 
imitated  the  virtuous  Locmarians  by  turning  his  back  on  his 
errant  god-daughter  Old  soldiers  are  usually  indulgent  in 
matters  of  love  In  his  presence  nobody  dared  to  speak  ill 
of  the  pretty  farmer-girl. 

Plouer  was  not  only  the  most  daring  of  mariners  and  the 
cunningest  fisher  on  the  island,  but  he  had  been  one  of  the 
finest  and  deadliest  fencers  in  his  regiment.  He  could  swing 
a  cutlass  now  so  that  not  one  durst  stand  up  to  him,  steel  in 
hand. 

So  fond  was  he  of  the  art  without  which  no  gentleman  was 
reckoned  accomplished  in  that  era,  that  he  put  a  little  sword 
in  the  chubby  hand  of  Joel  when  he  was  only  five  or  six 
years  old. 

From  that  time  forward,  the  boy  never  let  .a  day  pass  with- 
out having  fenced  with  his  tutor  in  sword  play  for  an  hour 
or  two.  In  the  course  of  the  lessons,  the  enlarged  knitting- 
needle  had  become  a  cook's  skewer,  and  finally  a  long  rapier, 
while  the  unsteady  hand  was  at  length  firm,  the  eye  sure  and 
piercing,  and  the  stripling  was  able  to  stand  up  all  the  day,  in 
the  position  recommended  in  the  fencing  schools  of  the 
time — which  knew  a  thing  or  two. 

Besides  these  advantages,  our  hero  possessed  at  his  six- 
teenth year  a  height  scarcely  below  six  feet  in  his  stockings, 
without  being  weedy,  and  i:  promised  not  to  stop  there  •.  a 
fist  that  could  smash  paving  stones,  a  digestion  that  could 
relish  them  ;  and  an  inexhaustible  fount  of  good  spirits. 

His  mother  worshipped  her  infant  Hercules,  and  he  re- 
turned her  love  with  interest. 

He  wanted  for  nothing.  He  had  the  finest  broadcloth 
suits,  the  choicest  Hunting  dogs,  a  fowling  piece  made  by 
the  first  gunsmith  of  Nantes,  and  enough  pocket-money  to 
shower  alms  on  the  poor.  On  returning  from  the  chase  he 
always  found  a  copious  repast,  and  the  thickest  feather  bed 
awaiting  him  for  a  good  twelve  hour's  sleep. 

Such  happiness  often  covers  the  worst  disasters.  A  great 
event  was  to  out  an  end  to  it. 


46  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

One  day,  one  of  the  beggars  whom  he  regularly  relieved 
and  who  used  sometimes  to  attend  him  in  his  hunting  ex- 
peditions, was  set  upon  by  some  fellows  who  came  out  of  a 
wine-shop,  and  not  noticing  that  the  son  of  Porthos  was  with- 
in hearing,  pelted  him  with  stones  and  hurled  at  him  the  re- 
proach that  he  could  find  no  better  post  than  to  be  the  hang- 
er on  of  a  pert  knave  who  could  not  tell  his  father's  name. 

The  ringleader  of  these  ruffians  was  a  youth  who  had  pre- 
tensions to  gentle  blood,  his  father  having  been  a  notable 
official  under  the  rule  of  Fouquet.  Upon  the  insulted  young 
man  showing  himself  and  scattering  the  brawlers  by  his  pres- 
ence alone,  this  one  stood  firm  but  refused  reparation. 

"  I  cannot  fight  with  a  man  who  does  not  know  who  is  his 
sire,  he  said  :  "  I  am  a  gentleman  ! — if  you  are  born  to 
carry  a  sword,  go  get  it  with  proofs  of  your  right  to  bear  it, 
and  I  will  meet  you  with  my  father's,  on  the  beach  by  the 
Giant's  Tomb." 

The  gathered  crowd  supported  the  challenger  in  this  in- 
genious evasion,  for  nobody  believed  in  the  hazy  story  of 
Corentine's  amour,  which  had  oozed  out  from  Plouer  in  his 
cups. 

In  a  fit  of  rage  and  desperation,  Joel  had  run  off  at  ran- 
dom, and  woe  to  any  one  whom  he  encountered  in  that  mad 
race. 

Without  intending  it,  his  steps  brought  him  out  into  the 
open,  in  the  desert,  which  the  young  gentleman  had  well  se- 
lected for  the  duel  which  he  did  not  expect  to  have  to  fight. 

The  Giant's  Tomb  was  a  moss  and  weed-grown  tumulus, 
about  which  the  superstitious  Bretons  had  woven  the  usual 
garland  of  legends.  Here,  in  plain  truth,  had  been  immured 
Porthos,  in  defending  his  friend  Aramis  and  to  give  him  the 
time  to  escape  in  the  boat  which  Plouer  and  his  crew  were 
to  launch  and  direct  ro  avoid  the  royal  fleet  blockading  Belle- 
Isle.  But  the  secret  had  been  well-kept  by  the  dead  soidiert 
whom  tney  had  destroyed  and  the  fishermen  who  had  con- 
veyed the  fugitive  Bishop  of  Vannes  to  the  frigate  which  car- 
ried him  to  Spain.  Plouer  was  observed  to  laugh  with  the  low 
chuckle  of  the  Breton  when  he  heard  a  villager  express  his 
dislike  to  go  along  the  strand  by  what  had  been  the  cavern 
of  Locmaria' 

Corentine,  who  had  discovered  the  grotto,  and  had  im- 
parted the  word  to  her  god-father,  had  also  kept  the  secret* 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  49 

Thus  it  followed  that  the  rustics  went  back  to  the  olden 
times  for  a  cause  to  account  for  the  convulsion  which  had 
buried  the  pursuers  of  the  Bishop  of  Vannes  and  his  fellow* 
rebel  in  the  fallen-in  cave.  They  invented  a  giant  who  had 
been  at  war  with  the  priests  who  tenated  the  spot  as  custod- 
ians of  a  temple,  and  who  had  been  defeated  by  the  holy 
men.  Ages  after,  when  the  enemies  of  the  good  bishop  invaded 
the  holy  site,  the  giant's  spectre,  enraged  at  the  double  prof- 
anation of  the  fame  of  Calonesa  and  his  resting  place,  had 
upheaved  the  rocks  and  let  all  tumble  in  upon  the  royal- 
ists. 

When  the  furious  youth  reached  this  mound,  the  sun  was 
dyeing  the  gorse  and  heather  with  purple  and  mother-of-pearl 
tints  and  the  gulls  streamed  close  up  to  him  to  scream  at  him 
as  he  took  a  seat  sadly  among  the  melancholy  larches  which 
twisted  like  dead  serpents  among  the  stones;  some  of  these 
showed  the  blue  and  black  marks  of  the  explosion.  In  spots 
a  rank  grass  grew,  and  in  others,  only  a  creeping  weed  with 
a  blood-red  flower  like  splashes  of  gore. 

Where  Joel  sat,  the  upheaval  seemed  one  of  the  funeral 
mounds  raised  by  the  ancients  after  a  battle  where  a  hand- 
ful of  determined  spirits  had  overcome  a  host.  It  is  true 
that  Aramis  and  Porthos  between  them,  with  the  slight  help 
of  Plouer  and  his  crew  of  two,  had  slain  over  a  hundred  of 
the  foe. 

Around  was  peace:  butjiere  the  spirit  of  battle  still  reigned 
and  whipped  up  the  ire  of  the  youth.  He  meditated  only 
of  killing  everyone  of  the  bitter  jesters  who  had  insulted  his 
mother  and  his  father's  memory.  Oh,  for  such  a  weapon  as 
the  Excalibur  of  King  Arthur, — who  lives  in  Breton  tradi- 
tions. He  would  attack  the  slanderers  a  hundred  strong,  and 
strike,  and  slay,  and  slay  with  an  unwearied  arm.  This 
father  whom  he  had  never  seen  and  of  whom  he  thought  so 
constantly  but  spoke  so  seldom — who  was  he  ?  Piously  the 
youth  invoked  this  sire  who  was  but  a  phantom  in  his  dreams. 
And  it  seemed  to  him  on  the  sombre  background  of  the 
pines  and  blackened  rocks,  that  he  suddenly  beheld  one  of 
those  human-like  figures  moulded  by  the  fays  out  of  the 
ocean  mists.  This  figure  had  the  martial  bearing  and  vic- 
toriouss  talk  of  a  conqueror  of  men,  and  it  still  seemed  to 
the  gazer  that  the  large  eyes  were  bent  on  him  with  a  glance 
of  blended  sorrow  and  Bride.  With,  a  uabLe  gesture  it  drew 


48  7jJ£  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

/long  oword  from  its  rich  girdle-band,  and  with  a  flourish 
AS  if  to  indicate  its  purpose,  placed  it  on  a  stone  not  a  score 
of  feet  away.  Then,  with  a  kind  of  affectionate  nod  of  fare- 
well, it  faded  into  the  other  mists  which  began  to  wreathe  thf 
mound. 

Breaking  the  spell  which  had  held  him  during  this  vision, 
Joel  sprang  to  his  feet  with  a  wild  cry :  "  Oh,  stay,  ray 
father!"  but  when  he  reached  the  stone,  all  had  vanished  and, 
indeed,  no  weapon  of  any  kind  rested  on  the  face  of  granite 
— only  a  dry  twig  with  which  imagination  had  pictured  the 
sword. 

But  still  Joel  stared  at  the  place  where  the  simulacrum 
had  withdrawn  from  his  sight :  never  had  a  dream  been  so 
vivid — he  believed  that  he  should  never  forget  the  form  in 
its  details,  plumed  hat,  with  some  of  the  feathers  snapped 
by  bullets,  glittering  baldrick,  loose  breeches  seamed  with 
gold  lace  and  disappearing  in  the  large  tops  of  riding  boots. 
But  to  his  call  only  the  sea-bird's  shrill  scream  had  answered. 
He  turned  reluctantly,  when  a  sharp  pain  at  his  heel  wrung 
from  him  an  exclamation.  Something  bright  but  ruddy 
gleamed  in  the  sunshine  ;  he  stooped  and  carefully  exam- 
ined what  proved  to  be  a  point  of  metal.  He  seized  the 
twig  and  dug  it  out — it  was  a  sword,  but  from  its  length 
and  weight  and  the  size  of  the  handle  it  must  have  belonged 
to  such  a  giant  as  was  fabled  to  lay  his  bones  here. 

"  It  is  my  father's  gift,"  said  Joel,  kissing  it  piously,  al- 
though the  rust,  which  might  be  blood,  reddened  his  pale 
lips.  "I  accept  the  token  and  I  hop  to  draw  it  only  in 
such  causes  as  he  would  approve  and  never  to  sheathe  it 
without  the  wrong  done  me  is  avenged." 

He  had  the  weapon  for  redress,  and  now,  all  that  he  want* 
ed  was  the  proofs  of  his  gentility.  He  returned  home,  and 
entered  the  house,  still  pale,  but  his  eyes  blazing  and  his  feat- 
ures sternly  contracted.  Never  had  his  mother  seen  the 
usually  placid  youth  so  aroused. 

"Good  heavens,  what  has  happened  ?" 

"I  have  been  insulted,"  responded  Joel,  in  a  deep  and 
tremulous  voice  .  "and  I  am  to  meet  the  principal  aggressor 
in  a  duel,  when  I  am  supplied  with  the  name  of  my  father 
and  the  proof  that  he  was  entitled  to  confer  on  his  son  the 
right  to  bear  and  use  a  sword.  This  sword— his  sword—* 
you  see,  I  am  provided  with," 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  & 

And  he  related  the  vision  and  held  up  the  sword  of  Porthos 
which  time,  the  action  of  the  sea  breeze  and  the  crumbling: 
of  the  stones,  had  fortuitously  offered  to  his  hand. 

Corentine  turned  white  as  a  sheet  on  seeing  this  giauat*s 
glaive,  heroic  in  dimensions,  which  she  recognized  as  hav- 
ing been  worn  by  her  colossal  lover.  She  staggered,  pressing 
her  hand  to  her  bosom  as  though  she  had  been  pierced  to 
the  heart  with  it.  Joel  loved  his  mother  and  felt  a  respect 
for  her  which  would  not  have  been  unworthy  a  saint.  On  see- 
ing the  distress  which  prostrated  the  unhappy  woman, 
sudden  revulsion  drore  pway  his  wrath  as  regarded  her.  He 
bent  his  knee  as  one  does  in  suing  great  pard"U,  and  ex- 
claimed  with  a  pang  of  anguish: 

"What  is  the  matter,  mother  ?  I  have  caused  you  pain  t 
Is  it  possible  that  you  recognize  this  sword  ?" 

"  It  is  the  offering  of  the  dead,"  she  returned  solemnly, 
and  staying  her  tears  ;  "Well,  you  shall  know  at  once  what 
must  have  been  enfolded  to  you  one  day.  I  met " 

He  held  up  his  hand  to  silence  her,  with  a  kind  of  author- 
ity which  he  had  never  felt  or  shown  to  her  before. 

"Nay,  be  still.  I  wish  to  know  nothing.  I  will  not  fight 
ft  duel  with  this  malapert,  but  cudgel  him  and  his  band  oi 
Jesters  within  an  inch  of  their  lives.  Do  not  speak — un- 
less to  utter  my  forgiveness  for  having  caused  you  pain." 

She  disengaged  herself  from  his  embrace,  and  repeated  : 

"You  shall  know,  my  boy,  what  it  is  right  you  should  have 
known  ;  but  let  it  be  later — may  it  be  so  ?'* 

"Oh,  mother,  I  have  no  wish  but  yours.  Keep  the  se- 
cret. Like  the  vision  and  the  gift  of  my  sire,  it  will  be  re- 
pealed in  Gods's  own  good  time." 

"I  pledge  you  my  faith  that  all  shall  be  clear,"  she  went 
0n  gravely.  "If  you  have  seen  him — dead — it  is  because  I 
am  to  see  him  soon.  You  shall  know  all,  all — when — "  she 
muttered  the  end  of  the  sentence  out  of  his  hearing :  "when 
death  shall  prevent  me  blushing  in  your  presence." 

From  that  day,  there  was  a  change  in  the  life  of  the 
toother  and  the  son.  She  grew  gloomy,  and  her  activity 
waned.  She  left  to  him  the  care  of  the  farm,  and  shut  her- 
self up  in  her  room.  She  was  often  heard  to  repeat  with  the 
vSet  frown  of  one  haunted  by  the  same  idea  :  "It  is  by  my 
ton's  hand  that  I  am  punished." 

She  had  long  ceased  to  go  to  the  churchyard  to  decor- 


JO  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OK. 

ate  her  parents'  graves,  for  the  backbiters  would  even  now 
have  insulted  her;  in  country  places,  moral  feuds  rarely  die 
out  i  but  she  took  her  only  walks  to  the  deserted  tract  of 
the  beach  where  rounded  up  the  Giant's  Tomb.  Nobody 
but  Joel,  whose  curiosity  had  urged  him  to  follow  her  one 
day,  divined  the  object  of  this  strange  pilgrimage. 

"It  was  my  father  whom  I  saw,  as  surely  as  this  sword 
was  his."  And  he  smiled  with  a  kind  of  savage  and  lofty 
pride  that  he  was  the  offspring  of  so  grand  and  impressive  a 
figure. 

Meanwhile  the  poor  woman's  countenance  grew  thin  ; 
around  her  eyes  brown  circles  formed  ;  her  skin  assumed  the 
yellow  of  old  ivory  and  threads  of  silver  whitened  her  luxur- 
iant hair.  Her  son  was  almost  the  only  one  not  to  remark  the 
alteration,  for  youth  sees  everything  lively  and  splendrous 
as  itself. 

Yet  he  was  serious  at  whiles.  He  had  not  resented  the  in- 
sult either  with  the  providentially  supplied  sword  or  with  the 
cudgel,  used  for  the  adjustment  of  differences  between  those 
who  were  not  allowed  the  gentleman's  arm  ;  but  this  was  be- 
cause nobody  dared  repeat  the  slur  on  his  parentage,  in  his 
hearing,  from  the  terribly  threatening  look  which  he  wore 
when  he  suspected  it  was  on  the  lips  of  an  interlocutor  A 
jest  loses  its  point  when  there  is  danger  of  no  less  than  death 
to  the  joker.  No  one  believed  that  he  had  forgotten  the 
insult  least  of  all  the  young  squire  who  had  uttered  it. 
Joel's  natural  liveliness  was  often  veiled  by  a  cloud  of  care. 
His  eyes  wandered  into  vacancy  and  became  fixed  so  that  the 
old  crones  said  that  the  young  master  at  Corentine's  farm 
had  "seen  the  walkers  on  the  heath,"  meaning  those  envoys 
from  the  other  world  who  tell  us  of  what  it  is  not  possible 
for  mortals  to  hear  without  their  being  made  grave  for  life. 
He  would  stroll  the  beach  for  hours  together,  as  if  an  in- 
visible attraction  linked  his  sight  with  some  goal  on  the 
other  side  ot  the  water  separating  him  from  the  main. 

The  farm  proprietress  read  what  was  passing  within  him; 
for  she  would  meet  him  on  his  coming  home,  and  say  in  a 
broken  voice  rj  she  pressed  him  to  her  bosom,  i 

"But  you  will  not  go  away,  my  dear  Joel,  until  I  am  no 
more?" 

The  malady  under  which  Corentine  suffered  was  the  most 
Ondeimining  of  aU:  it  was  grief.  She  was  certain  that  her 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAAflS.  5* 

gallant  lover  was  in  the  grave,  and  the  swor4  which  pointed 
to  heavan  from  tne  subterranean,  was  a  token.  She  ques- 
tioned Plouer  in  a  secret  conference,  while  Joel  was  out  of 
the  house,  and  he  described  the  companion  of  the  Bishop  of 
Vannes,  distinguished  by  his  tall  form  and  imposing  de« 
meaner  so  that  there  was  no  doubt  left  that  the  father  of  the 
boy  was  him  they  both  were  fond  of,  the  engineer  who  had 
defied  the  King  and  his  forces.  Unfortunately,  the  soldier 
had  never  heard  him  called  by  any  other  title  than  "Porthos,"4" 
evidently  a  nom-de-guerre.  But  he  had  no  more  doubt  than 
his  god-daughter,  of  the  nobility  of  the  officer.  Unfortu- 
nately, the  Bishop  of  Vannes  had  fled  as  an  outlaw.  In  thiv 
remote  spot,  no  one  knew  how  the  King  had  forgiven  him, 
on  the  instance  of  his  favorite  Captain  of  tne  Musketeers. 
That  Aramis,  escaped  by  his  affiliation  to  the  Company  of 
Jesus,  should  have  attained  high  rank  in  Spain,  did  not  enter 
into  the  fancy  of  either  of  these  rustics.  They  both  believed 
that  the  secret  was  entombed  in  the  Giant's  Grave.  The 
syndic  of  the  fishermen  went  there,  and  tried  to  unearth  the 
bones  of  the  valiant  one  ;  but  the  immense  boulders  defied 
his  single  hand  to  even  budge  them;  and  as  he  did  not  wish 
Strangers  to  disinter  the  remains,  he  forbore  to  call  in  aid. 

He  returned  to  tell  of  his  ill  success  to  his  god-daughter, 
whom  he  had  not  seen  for  some  days,  and  met  a  messenger 
who  was  running  to  the  priest's.  Corentine  was  a-bed  and  in 
a  bad  state;  her  ailment  was  mental  and  the  physician  for 
the  soul  alone  might  do  her  any  good. 

As  the  messenger  was  an  infirm  old  man,  Plouer  replaced 
him  in  the  quest. 

In  the  meantime,  Joel  had  gone  into  the  sick-room  at  his 
mother's  feeble  call.  She  was  sitting  up,  after  an  effort  which 
drew  from  her  a  piteous  wail.  He  hastened  to  wipe  off  She 
tears  which  the  pain  wrung  from  her  failing  eyes.  He  had 
crossed  the  room  to  reach  her  in  a  couple  of  strides,  like  a 
lion.  But  he  had  not  made  more  noise  than  the  same  animal 
hunting  for  prey.  He  threw  himself  upon  his  knees  by  the 
bedside,  and  pressed  his  burning  lips  on  the  woman's  blood- 
less and  wasted  hands.  She  drew  him  passionately  towards 
her. 

"When  you  are  by  me,  I  suffer  no  more,"  she  murmured. 
"You  must  not  afflict  yourself,"  she  continued,  with  gentle 
gravity,  on  feeling  the  boy's  tears  on  her  face — for  he  was 


53  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS.  O&, 

ever  a  boy  to  her  ;  "we  are  not  to  part  forever,  but  shall 
meet  again  where  my  prayers  and  my  repentance  will  have 
won  me  a  place,  I  trust.  In  that  home  of  peace  and  bliss,  i 
shall  watch  over  your  days.  You  will  see  me  bending  over 
you,  as  when  you  were  in  the  cradle,  and  the  belief  of  my 
guard  will  support  you  in  the  task  which  I  entreat  our  Lord 
to  grant  you  the  power  to  fulfill. 

''Your  father  assured  me — and  a  nobleman  never  lies  to 
the  woman  whom  he  loves — that  he  never  loved  but  me — 
that  lie  had  no  heir  to  his  fortune,  his  title  and  his  fame, 
It  is  you  who  must  show  that  his  spirit  survives  in  his  son. 
Learn  who  he  was — for  I  feel  that  he  is  not  in  the  land  of 
the  living,  alas  !  That  is  the  reason  that  I  reveal  to  you 
the  secret  of  my  life,  my  loss  of  station  among  the  neighbors 
and  this  killing  grief.  It  is  my  duty  to  avow  my  fault '' 

"Mother,"  said  the  young  man,  "again,  let  me  know  r.oth. 
ing.  Say  not  a  word,  or  speak  to  tell  me  that  this  is  noi 
the  long  farewell." 

She  thanked  him  with  a  look  which  painted  the  extent  of 
her  gratitude. 

"You  have  never  so  much  as  questioned  me  by  a  look, 
since  the  once.  Heaven  will  bless  the  son  who  so  respected 
his  mother.  Nevertheless,  you  have  been  seeking  here,  and 
you  have  intended  to  seek  on  the  mainland,  the  origin  of 
your  birth.  Do  not  deny  what  I  and  Plouer  have  perceived 
Besides,  you  know  not  how  to  lie." 

Joel  raised  his  head  with  pride. 

"The  reverend  father  is  coming,"  she  resumed  but  with 
fatigue.  "No  doubt  he  will  approve  of  my  course,  and  then 
you  will  know  all  as  far  as  I  do." 

She  interrupted  herself  to  listen  to  a  sound  which  did  not 
catch  his  ears,  and  sank  back,  exhausted  on  the  pillow.  He 
(leant  over  her,  and  he  received  that  inimitable  caress-- 
Ithe  dying  mother's  final  salutation  this  side  of  the  grave.  With- 
out, he  now  heard  the  tinkling  of  a  small  silver  bell :  it  was 
the  priest  coming,  guided  by  Plouer,  if  the  parish  priest 
needed  any  guide  on  that  often  traversed  road. 

Indeed  Father  Keravel  approved  of  the  woman's  wishes, 
for  he  remitted  to  Joel,  next  day,  that  of  Corentine's  deathj 
the  written  confession  which  she  wished  her  son  to  peruse  foi 
his  search  for  his  paternity,  clues  to  help  him,  a  portrait 
•traced  from  an  unflagging  memory,  some  names  and  a  date, 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  Art  AMIS.  5$ 

She  had  yielded  up  these  when  the  hour  of  her  liberation 
from  grief  and  pain  came  to  her.  Days  after  the  funeral  of 
one  whom  he  long  and  sincerely  mourned,  the  young  master 
of  the  farm  announced  his  intention  to  sell  it  and  all  its  ap- 
purtenances. But  the  matter  was  not  arranged  without  de- 
lay, the  cunning  peasants  pretending  to  be  in  no  hurry  to 
purchase  what  they  were  in  reality  covetting.  The  formali- 
ties and  chaffering  lasted  about  a  year,  in  the  course  of  which 
the  young  heir  gradually  fell  back  into  his  old  habits  and 
moods. 

One  morning  he  called  upon  Father  Keravel,  and  after 
having  begged  him  to  forgive  him  for  the  trouble  he  had 
caused  him  as  the  "Big  boy,"  of  the  school,  and  thanked 
him  for  what  amount  of  education  he  had  succeeded  in 
imparting,  he  constrained  him  to  accept  a  handsome  sum 
for  his  school  and  the  little  chapel,  such  as  a  suzerain  lord 
might  have  offered. 

"Father,"  he  said,  "I  ask  to  be  remembered  in  your 
prayers  as  I  am  going  to  Paris." 

"  Go,  my  son,"  answered  the  priest.  "I  know  the  aim 
to  which  you  tend,  and  I  am  not  f.he  one  to  turn  you  aside, 
however  difficult  as  it  appears  the  reaching  it  will  be.  It 
is  a  laudable  errand,  and  you  are  a  worthy  young  gentleman. 
The  Lord  will  protect  you,  and  I  shall  bless  you." 

Our  hero  went  to  take  leave  of  Plouer.  At  the  first  words 
which  touched  upon  the  imminent  departure,  the  old  soldier 
grumbled  : 

'*  Humph  !  it  is  my  opinion  that  you  are  seeking  a  needle 
in  the  haystack.  But  I  am  not  going  to  wrangle  with  you, 
from  the  time  that  you  have  taken  it  into  your  head.  Why, 
Paris,  though,  when  to  my  mind  it  is  here  where  you  should 
iake  up  one  end  of  the  clue  ?  However,  do  your  best  not  to 
Jeave  your  skin  and  bones  in  town  for  your  pains,  and  in 
*rder  to  be  safe  on  that  score,  remember  to  quickly  do  unto 
•thers  what  you  do  not  like  them  to  do  unto  you!" 

After  enunciating  this  somewhat  perverted  Christian  motto, 
ihe  old  sub-officer  added  • 

"I  see  you  have  girded  on  the  sword  you  found,  and  you 
Itill  believe  as  I  do,  that  it  belonged  to  the  engineer  who 
fought  the  king's  men  singlehanded,  cr  nearlv  so — for  though 
I  admit  that  the  bishop  saw  the  blood  spilled,  like  an  old 
warrior — as  they  tell  me  once  he  was — the  fighting  fell  nearlv 


54  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

all  to  M.Porthos's  lot.  We  boatmen  only  scored  dead  hounds 
to  our  credit."  And  for  the  first  time,  in  its  entirety,  he  re- 
lated the  scene  in  the  grotto,  where  the  royalists  had  been 
held  at  bay  by  the  paltry  force  of  the  two  friends  and  the 
three  sea-farers.  Joel  listened  with  avidity,  and  his  eyes 
sparkled.  This  was  a  father  worthy  of  his  owning.  But  it 
was  the  proofs  of  that  parentage  that  he  could  alone  hope  to 
find — he  was  sure  that  he  was  turning  his  back  in  that 
search,  on  his  sire  s  grave.  At  least,  he  left  the  admiring 
Plouer  to  guard  it. 

"Let  me  see  it  again,"  said  the  old  corporal,  and  he  rev- 
erently handled  the  long  sword.  "That  is  it,  I  am  sure.  I 
see  the  motto  on  the  blade  is  '  One  for  All,  All  for  One' — a 
very  good  one  for  the  member  of  a  regiment.  There  is  a 
Spanish  one  often  seen  on  good  Toledo  blades — 'Never 
draw  me  but  from  reason — never  sheathe  me  but  in  honor.'  * 

Hugging  the  recipient  of  his  fencing  knowledge,  as  if  to 
crush  him,  he  concluded: 

"Hang  these  fondlings,  which  are  only  fit  for  women  ! 
Farewell,  and  may  your  journey  then  turn  out  well,  my  boy. 
Tiiink  sometimes  of  your  old  fencing-master,  and  keep  in 
practice  for  the  ward,  and  the  lunge,  cultivate  the  prime 
parade  and  when  you  thrust,  do  it  with  your  whole  arm, 
body  and  soul.  With  that  correct,  you  can  reach  any 
point." 


CHAPTER  VII. 

ON  THE  TRESHOLD. 

To  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  our  hero  imparted  as  much  of 
this  romantic  story  as  he  knew,  and  he  concluded  succinctly: 

"The  cou<  is  at  Paris  or  in  its  neighborhood,  and  the 
place  of  all  nobleman,  is  at  the  court.  Now,  it  is  clear  that 
my  father  was  a  nobleman,  and  if  he  be  alive,  or  if  he  has 
friends  in  position,  I  shall  learn  there  about  him.  Hence, 
I  am  making  straight  for  Paris." 

The  young  lady  could  not  abstain  from  a  start  ot  sur- 
prise and  compassion  before  such  simple  faith. 

"But  the  clues  of  which  you  speak — the  date—and  tht 
•names  to  aid  you  in  your  searches  ?" 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  $£ 

"The  starting-point  is  the  date  of  the  occupation  of  Belle* 
Isle  by  the  royal  forces.  The  first  of  the  names  is  that  of 
my  father,  'Porthos,'  next  those  of  his  three  companions-in- 
arms, for  whom  he  cherished  an  attachment  and  devotion- 
above  proof — these  were  Athos,  Aramis  and  d'Artagnan." 

Aurore  shook  her  head,  and  commented: 

"Odd  names,  indeed,  and  no  doubt  cloaks  to  their  real 
titles.  What  a  number  of  enigmas  to  unravel !"  And  she- 
gravely  added:  "I  hope  you  will  succeed." 

He  looked  at  her  with  affright. 

"Oh,  lady,  with  what  a  forbidding  look  you  say  that!  You 
will  dishearten  me.  Do  you  already  despair  of  my  succeed- 
ing in  the  quest?" 

"  No,  my  friend,  for  you  have  a  helper — though  youi 
only  one,  but  it  can  do  everything  for  those  who  trust  ta 
it " 

"It  ?"  said  Joel  sadly:  "I  understand:  you  mean  chance  ?'* 

"Well,  I  prefer  to  call  it  Providence,"  replied  the  girl  with 
inspiration. 

This  dialogue  took  place  on  the  rich  plains  of  Beauce  ;  for 
time  had  progressed,  as  well  as  the  Nantes  Coach,  and  the 
acquaintance  of  the  young  couple,  commenced  on  the  high- 
way of  Saumur,  was  complete  on  the  day  after  their  leaving 
the  Golden  Heron. 

The  night  following  the  departure  had  been  spent  by  the 
young  squire  in  watching  over  the  sleep  of  the  lady  ,  she  sat 
over  against  him,  while  he  shrank  back  into  a  corner  of  the 
cumbrous  vehicle,  where  all  the  passengers  were  huddled 
higgledy-piggledy. 

When  a  dawning  light  peeped  into  the  common  cell,  he 
had  seen  the  girl's  entrancing  features  gradually  become  de- 
fined, from  being  vague  and  smoothed  out  as  in  a  vision,  so 
as  to  be  still  more  captivating  as  they  could  be  more  clearly  dis- 
tinguished. The  rising  sun  played  with  her  tresses.  As  soon 
as  she  opened  her  eyes,  their  gaze  met  the  youth's,  and  a 
rosy  tinge  suddenly  colored  her  peachy  cheeks.  In  the  limpid 
pupil  was  a  slight  reproach  as  she  said  to  the  admirer: 

"So  you  were  looking  at  me  sleeping,  Squire  Joel?" 

He,  too,  had  blushed  like  a  boy  caught  in  a  fault,  and  he 
was  confused  and  could  not  find  a  reply.  His  lifting  his  hand 
to  his  forehead,  to  collect  his  wits,  disarranged  the  bandage 
with  which  his  face-wound  had  been  covered  during,  the 


5«  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

eight.  As  he  was  trying  to  invent  some  excuse,  to  gire 
himself  countenance,  Aurore  asked  if  she  might  not  help 
him.  And,  without  waiting  for  his  consent,  she  proceeded 
to  replace  the  bandage  with  a  hand  which  did  not  tremble. 

Our  Breton  adventurer  wanted  speech  to  express  his  ecs- 
tasy, but  his  ravished  gaze  was  terribly  eloquent. 

*'I  am  just  doing  my  duty,"  continued  the  fair  Samaritan. 
4t  You  ran  the  danger  for  me.  I  thank  heaven  the  hurt  is 
so  slight,  when  it  might  in  such  a  place  have  been  mor- 
tal." 

"  It  would  have  been  a  joy  to  have  shed  all  my  life's 
blood  on  your  behalf,"  muttered  the  youth. 

"  Do  I  hurt  you  ?"  inquired  Aurore,  smiling. 

"  Oh,  do  not  think  of  such  a  thing  !"  exclaimed  the  squire 
-whose  intoxication  knew  no  bounds. 

The  bandage  having  been  adjusted,  the  impromptu  nur?e 
went  on  to  say:  "I  have  spoken  of  a  duty  which  it  is  sweet 
to  fulfill  ;  but  I  have  also  a  right,  and  it  is  my  desire  :  I  want 
to  know  who  it  is  to  whom  I  must  be  ever  grateful  for  so  sig- 
nal a  service." 

Thereupon  the  young  man  had  related  the  story  of  his  life, 
until  his  auditress,  lifting  a  warning  finger,  indicated  that 
their  fellow-travelers  were  also  listening,  with  ears  pricked 
tip  and  mouths  a  gape. 

"NiVci.  mind  the  rest  now.  Later — when  we  are  going  up  a 
hill." 

This  was  tiie  o^  meaua  of  having  seclusion  from  their 
coach-companions.  So,  when  a  rising  ~f  the  road  obliged 
the  party  to  alight  and  relieve  the  vehicle  ui  their  bodies, 
Mdlle.  du  Tremblay, — whom  her  presumed  lightness  and 
her  sex  had  excused  from  this  change, — which  the  shipping 
merchant  facetiously  styled  "lightening  ship — ?J  hastened  to 
step  down.  The  least  acclivity  tempted  her.  Encouraged 
t>y  a  smile,  Joel  offered  her  his  arm,  and  the  two  walked  on 
together,  leaning  towards  one  another.  In  these  instant.-, 
of  isolation,  the  orphan  had.  concluded  his  narration.  On 
her  part,  she  repeated  what  she  had  told  the  Chevalier  d* 
£i£voiay.  After  this  exchange  oi  confidence,  *hs  two  had 
cnaited.  Of  what  ?  it  little  matters.  No  doub*  of  tne  weather, 
She  scenery,  continually  varying,  the  villages  they  drov* 
through  without  noticing  them,  and  those  trifles,  "  light  as 
air,"  which  lovers  find  full  of  sense  wtoen  the  adored  one  speaki 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  57 

them.  Their  glances  were  caresses,  their  words  incense,  and 

their  heart-beats  kept  time. 

On  the  heights  of  St.  Cloud,  Paquedru  pointed  with  his 
whip  to  the  twin  towers  of  the  Cathedral  of  Ndtre  Dame, 
emerging  on  the  horizon  in  the  floating  gold  dust  of  a  fine 
summer's  evening. 

"  Paris  !"  he  shouted. 

"  Paris  !"  repeated  the  others,  rubbing  their  hands  with 
satisfaction  at  having  had  no  more  adventures  with  highway- 
men. 

"  Paris  !"  repeated  with  mutual  sadness  the  Oon  of  Por- 
thos  and  the  daughter  of  the  house  of  Tremblar. 

For  the  rest,  the  driver's  hail  had  been  the  proclamation, 
impatiently  awaited,  of  the  end  of  their  imprisonment  in  this 
cage  on  wheels,  rolling  at  a  tortoise's  pace.  For  our  pair 
of  turtle  doves,  it  simply  meant  a  parting.  Their  bos- 
oms shrank,  their  brows  clouded,  and  their  lips  became 
mute. 

Meanwhile,  the  coach  entered  the  city  to  stop  in  the 
coachyard,  the  name  still  being  applied  to  the  site,  though 
uilt  upon  in  the  suburb,  without  the  St.  Honore*  gate. 

The  passengers  hastened  to  open  the  door  and  climbed 
out  with  a  sigh  of  relief  when  stepping  on  the  pavement. 

"  Is  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  here  ?"  inquired  a  quivering 
voice,  as  an  aged  serving-woman  showed  herself  at  the  coach- 
door. 

"Here  I  am,"  responded  the  girl,  leaping  out  nimbly. 

The  old  domestic  courteseyed,  and  continued  :  "Your 
kinswoman,  my  mistress,  Widow  de  la  Bassetiere,  sent  me  to 
meet  you  and  take  you  to  our  house  " 

"Very  well,  nurse  ;  I  am  with  you."  But  she  turned  to- 
wards the  Breton,  who  had  alighted  after  her  from  being  in 
the  farther  corner,  and  said  :  "  It  is  the  time  to  part." 

His  heart  was  swollen  with  indefinable  anguish,  and  he 
could  not  breathe  a  word. 

"Good  fortune,"  she  said,  offering  her  hand,  ''And  I  hope 
we  shall  meet  again." 

"Do  you  hope  that  ?'*  queried  Joel,  feeling  life  return  to 
him  at  the  sentence. 

"Certainly  I  do,"  in  full  sincerity  :  "It  is  only  mountains 
that  never  meet,"  she  added,  forcing  herself  to  seem  mirth- 
fttl  to  cheer  him  up.  "I  feel  sure  that  we  shall  meet  again.* 


58  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

"But  when,  and  where  ?"  questioned  the  Breton,  who  had 
learnt  from  his  fencing-master,  to  reply  directly  and  tc 
the  point. 

Aurore  was  "hit."  Perhaps  she  wanted  the  question  to  bt 
put,  for  she  answered  promptly;  ''The  member  of  my  fam* 
ily  offering  me  hospitality,  lives  in  the  Rue  des  Tourndles. 
I  beleive  that  St.  Paul's  Church  is  close  by,  and  that  is  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Royal  Place.  Every  evening,  for  the 
vespers,  I  shall  go  to  that  church." 

While  the  young  couple  were  arranging  for  their  next  meet- 
ing, two  men  in  cloaks,  with  their  hats  slouched  over  their 
eyes,  were  hiding  under  the  shed  over  a  shop-front.  When 
the  young  lady  and  the  old  servant  went  their  way  towards 
St.  Honore*  gate,  one  of  the  men  leaned  to  the  other  and  said 
in  the  Spanish  language,  in  his  ear: 

"Esteban,  have  you  noticed  those  two  women  ?" 

"I  have,  my  lord  duke." 

"Then,  dog  them  whithersoever  they  may  go,  taking  heed 
not  to  let  them  perceive  that  they  are  the  object  of  you* 
pursuit." 

"I  understand  yout  lordship." 

"Bring  to  me  the  name  of  die  street  and  description  of  th» 
house  where  their  journey  leaves  them." 

"It  shall  be  done,  my  lord."  And  the  Duke  of  Almada's 
trusted  myrmidon  stated  off  in  the  tracks  of  the  unsus- 
pecting pair  with  a  stealthy  step  and  wary  carriage  which 
showed  that  the  errand  was  no  new  one. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  FASHIONABLE   FORTUNE-TELLER. 

ABOUT  the  same  time  as  the  Nantes  coach  rolled  into  Paris, 
three  women  came  to  a  stop  before  a  house  in  the  middle  of 
the  Rue  du  Bouloi.  They  wore  the  woolen  petticoats,  muslin 
caps  with  a  point,  and  hooded  mantles  of  the  middle-class 
Parisians.  The  house  had  such  a  mysterious  appearance  as 
became  one  reputed  to  be  the  retreat  of  the  heiress,  some 
said  tiie  daughter,  of  La  Voisin,  the  poisoner  who  cloaked 
her  deadly  trade  under  that  oj  soothsaying.  Whoever  she 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  59 

was  she  called  herself  the  Manicarde,  which  meant,  if  any- 
thing, the  Manipulator  of  Cards.  The  fashion  still  ran  on 
witches,  who  sold  pommades  to  ladies  of  quality  to  make 
thin  persons  stout,  and  stout  ones  slender  ,  charms  to  cause 
the  uimpressionable  to  love  one  another  ;  and  who  showed 
shades  of  the  greatest ;  as  for  instance,  to  the  Duke  of  Lux- 
embourg, was  shown  Satan  himself  to  influence  a  succession  to 
property,  and  to  Cardinal  Tour  d'Auvergne,  Marshal  Tu- 
renne,  whose  heir  he  was,  and  whose  buried  riches  he  was 
hungering  for.  The  Queen  and  the  King's  brother  had 
come  to  consult  the  oracles,  it  was  asserted. 

If  the  executed  La  Voisin's  daughter,  the  prophetess  had 
learnt  something  by  her  fate,  for  she  declared  that  she  only 
told  fortunes  and  did  not  deal  in  cosmetics  or  elixirs  of  love 
or,  still  less,  deadly  drugs,  Thanks  to  this  rule,  the  Lieu- 
tenant of  Police,  Lareynie,  allowed  her  undisturbedly  to, 
pursue  her  craft  in  the  same  street  as  where  he  lived,  and 
indeed  could  count  from  his  house  the  customers  she  had. 

At  the  knock  struck  on  the  door  by  one  of  the  women,  a 
hard,  sharp,  ringing  bang  as  by  one  accustomed  tocommand| 
a  negro  boy,  dressed  in  the  Oriental  mode,  silently  opened  it 
and  conducted  the  three  visitors  into  a  large  parlor  on  the 
ground  floor  where  he  pointed  to  chairs. 

The  room  resembled  an  alchemists  laboratory,  the  hang- 
ing lamp  showing  stuffed  crocodiles,  owls,  alembics,  and  the 
traditional  paraphernalia  of  the  wizard,  covered  with  dust. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  seats  which  the  visitors  took  were 
clean  as  if  frequently  used.  They  looked  about  them  with, 
curiosity,  and  one  whispered,  with  a  slight  shivering  : 

"  Does  it  not  seem  to  you  that  these  tapestry  hangings 
harbor  a  host  of  muttering  spectres  ?  Do  you  not  believe 
that  the  witches  Sabbath  is  celebrated  here  ?  Really,  ladies,  I 
am  afraid." 

A  meeting  of  witches  within  a  couple  of  steps  of  the  royal 
palace  and  the  public  gardens — next  door  to  the  resi- 
dence of  the  head  of  the  police  !  you  must  be  mad  my  dear 
friend!"  With  boastfulness  she  added:  "  I  laugh  at  the 
whole  pack."  Turning  to  the  third  of  the  party,  she  in- 
|uired  :  What  are  you  doing,  dear  Francoise  ?" 

"  I  am  observing,"  replied  this  one  tranquilly. 

While  the  first  lady  shudders  in  dread,  the  second  laughs 
and  the  last  observes,  let  us  present  all  three  to  the  reader,  two 


60  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OK, 

of  them  being  called  upon  to  play  important  parts  in  thi* 
work. 

The  one  in  terror  was  small,  fresh  in  complexion,  inclined 
to  be  full  in  figure,  with  chestnut  hair,  lively  eyes  and  mock- 
ing mouth.  She  is  not  of  much  importance  to  us.  The  gen- 
eral aspect  of  her  face  did  not  rise  above  her  commonplace 
attire. 

Not  so  with  the  laughing  beauty:  her  haughty  manners, 
imperial  stature,  and  lofty  carriage  of  the  head  formed  a  strik- 
ing contrast  with  the  modesty  of  her  dress.  She  appeared 
older  than  thirty,  but  her  loveliness  was  still  "surprising,"  as 
her  contemporaries  termed  it.  An  abundant  head  of 
hair,  with  a  ruddy  light  color,  puffed  out  her  cap.  Only  the 
slightest  space  separated  brows  of  jet,  seeming  to  be  drawn 
with  a  brush,  and  her  imperious  lip,  of  coral  red,  was 
curled  with  a  proud  smile  beneath  a  nose  finely  chiselled  with 
nostrils  inflated  with  passion.  Still,  the  masculine  and  reg* 
ular  countenance  wore  an  expression  of  unease.  The  eye 
was  cold  and  hard ;  the  smile  often  perfidious  and  ironical; 
and  the  prominent  cheekbones  betrayed  fierce  obstinacy. 

The  third  visitor  would  have  been  more  attractive  but  ;  >r 
her  severe  and  thoughtful  mien.  Her  face,  without  being 
pretty,  possessed  an  invincible  charm,  for  its  expression  ol 
meditative  calm  and  resolution.  Her  complexion,  of  the 
warm  cream  tint  in  colonial  beauties,  set  off  the  black  orb 
which  seemed  pursuing  some  dream  flown  into  vacancy, 
and  when  she  raised  them  upon  persons,  they  were  scrutin- 
ized with  deep  and  comprehensive  fixedness.  Curls  of  brown 
hair  clustered  on  the  forehead,  brown  and  smooth,  where 
the  work  of  thought  was  plain.  Lastly,  she  had  the  rare  and 
valuable  boon  of  features  that  collectively  could  never  be 
forgotten,  although  no  one  of  them  struck  attention. 

All  at  once,  a  doorway  hanging  opened,  and  the  Mani- 
carde  appeared.  Her  patrons  were  kept  in  ignorance  of  her 
age,  as  she  gave  her  audiences  seances  they  would  be  called 
in  the  modern  jargon  of  her  tribe,  in  a  dark  colored,  ample 
dressing  gown  with  hood  and  cape,  pulled  down  over  ..he  eyes 
for  which  there  were  holes  cut  out;  they  sparkled  with  a  ius- 
tre  which  might  be  youth  or  simply  weirdness.  For  an  iu  < 
stant  she  regarded  the  three  ladies,  who  had  risen  on  bet; 
approach. 

"  I  greet  you,  ladies,"  she  said  in  a  grave  voice. 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  6l 

"Ladies,"  was  a  significant  term  in  her  mouth,  as  it  was 
used  at  the  period  towards  all  women  of  quality;  while  mar- 
ried women  of  the  lower  classes  were  called  "mistress  (mad~ 
cmoiselle)" 

'6  In  you  1  hail  Beauty,  Birth  and  Rank  !"  she  proceeded 
after  a  pause.  "I  hail  Fortune  which  is  going  to  offer  its 
most  amazing  boon  in  making  one  of  you  a  queen.''  i 

"  Queen?  Am  I  to  be  a  queen  ?"  exclaimed  the  tall,  fair  * 
woman,  stepping  forward  as  though  such  a  prediction  could 
apply  to  her  alone,  but  the  soothsayer  did  not  take  up  the 
direct  challenge. 

**  Is  it  you  who  wish  to  be  the  first  to  question  Fate 
through  me  ?"  she  said. 

"  Yes,  to  be  sure,  wise  woman,"  returned  the  other,  sink- 
ing into  the  common  parlance,  "  provided  that  there  is  no 
obstacle." 

The  heiress  of  La  Voisin  nodded  affirmatively. 

ts  You  are  quite  right,  inasmuch  as  your  present  position 
gives  you  the  right  to  take  precedence  of  all  womankind. 
Follow  me,  therefore,  into  the  study  where  I  am  accustomed 
to  receive  persons  of  your  quality." 

Behind  the  arras,  she  had  a  private  room  without  the 
hideous  and  horrifying  objects,  toads,  serpents,  magic  books, 
etc.,  intended  to  impress  the  vulgar.  On  a  table  was  only 
a  pack  of  fortune-telling  cards  and  a  witch-hazel  rod.  Near 
the  table  was  a  capacious  arm-chair. 

"  My  lady  the  marchioness,"  said  the  sybil,  standing  and 
speaking  with  marked  deference,  "do  me  the  honor  to  take  a 
seat  under  my  rooftree." 

"You  know  my  title?"  exclaimed  the  other  with,  sur- 
prise. 

As  plainly  as  I  know  the  name  of  the  high  and  mighty 
Dame  Athenais  de " 

"  That  will  do,"  quickly  interrupted  the  visitor,  "do  not 
utter  that  name  in  such  a  place.     Walls  have  ears  some- 
times, and  I  did  myself  quite  too  much  harm,  as  no  doubt'} 
you  know,  by  going  to  consult  La  Voisin  unmasked  and 
without  disguise." 

"La  Voisin  was  foolish  enough  to  vend  the  drug  that 
cleared  one's  way  to  inheritance — the  Power  of  Succession? 
drily  replied  the  witch,  "while  I  sell  nothing  but  horoscopes. 
However,  I  will  call  you  the  Marvel,  if  you  please,  as  you 


02  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OX, 

are  styled  in  the  circle  where  you  shine  with  peerless  lustre 
Now,  will  you  deign  to  give  me  your  hand  ?" 

The  marchioness  seemed  satisfied  with  this  arrangement, 
for  she  tucked  up  the  sleeve  of  her  robe,  and  held  out  to  the 
speaker  a  hand  which  might  have  come  from  an  ancient 
statue  of  Cybele;  in  his  happiest  inspiration  Phidias  never 
sculptured  one  purer  and  so  perfect. 

"Yes,"  murmured  the  reader  of  the  future,  attentively  ex- 
amining the  lines,  "it  is  noble  and  severe,  although  graceful 
in  shape  and  pretty  with  its  dimples.  Albiet  delicate,  it  is 
larger  than  the  average,  which  denotes  a  mind  virile  and  de- 
cisive, and  capable  of  bold  deeds.  This  hand  is  fit  to  wield 
a  sceptre  !" 

The  lady  listened  with  a  thrill  of  pleasure,  while  the  chiro- 
mancer pursued :  "By  these  lines  I  can  tell  that  you  were 
born  in  1641,  and  are  consequently  thirty-seven  years  of 
age " 

"Skip  that !" 

"You  spring  from  a  family  in  which  mental  brilliancy  is 
inborn.  You  were  maid  of  honor  to  the  Queen.  In  1663, 
I  believe,  you  were  wed  ;  but  your  husband  quitted  you,  and 
your  children  have  no  right  to  bear  his  name." 

"My  good  creature,"  interrupted  the  Marchioness  de  Mont- 
espan  with  impatience,  "I  am  not  asking  to  you  for  what 
I  know  better  than  yourself.  What  I  want  to  learn  is — shall 
I  be  Queen  of  France  ?" 

The  diviner  rolled  her  eyes  heavenward  as  though  to  con- 
sult a  higher  power,  before  she  answered  : 

"You  are  what  you  wish  to  become." 

Frowning,  the  other  said  in  a  lowered  tone  :  "But  there 
is  yet  an  obstacle  betwixt  me  and  the  throne." 

"It  will  be  removed." 

"What?  Queen  Maria  Theresa " 

"Her  days  are  numbered,  and  death  waits  at  her  door  to 
take  her  hence."  She  shuffled  the  cards  and  as  she  spoke 
threw  one  down,  face  up,  on  the  table  :  it  was  the  seven  of 
clubs.  "So  many  years  as  there  are  points  here." 

"Are  you  sure  ?*' 

"The  cards  never  speak  false,*'  returned  the  Manicarde, 
pointing  to  the  pack  with  a  slender  finger  which  might 
have  been  an  old  woman's  emaciated  with  age,  or  a  girl's  not 
yet  developed. 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAMIS.  6j 

"Ah  !"  in  this  monosyllable,  roared  out,  so  to  say,  the 
tnumph  of  uoundless  ambition.  The  speaker's  visage  beamed 
with  tne  intoxication  of  pride.  She  drew  her  hand  away, 
saying  : 

"Enough  !  You  need  read  no  farther.  If  your  prediction 
comes  to  pass,  your  fortune  is  made,  my  pet.  Meanwhile, 
take  this  purse  of  gold." 

She  tossed  a  heavy  one  on  the  board. 

"If  only  the  throne  be  empty,  rely  on  me  taking  and  hold- 
ing it." 

But  the  sybil  shook  her  head,  and  said' 

"Lady,  lady,  you  have  not  yet  attained  your  mark.  Did 
you  not  see  that  rod  move  ?" 

"What  rod?" 

"  My  wand  which  rolled  over  to  touch  the  cards." 

"  No,  I  did  not  notice  it.     What  would  it  signify  ?" 

"  That  there  is  a  stumbling-block  on  your  path. " 

"  Never  mind  ;  I  shall  spurn  it  aloof,  or  break  it." 

"  Does  the  fiery  charioteer  perceive  the  rut  in  which  hii 
steeds  hurl  all  to  ruin  ?  See — the  wand  continues  to  vi- 
brate— Lady,  lady,  have  a  care  !" 

Without  any  apparent  reason,  the  rod  of  wood  thrilled  as 
if  about  to  turn  into  a  living  snake. 

"Why  should  I  care  ?" 

*'  Distrust  everybody  :  those  nearest  you,  in  the  first 
place." 

"  My  poor  witch,  you  are  in  your  dotage,"  said  La  Monies, 
pan,  with  a  smile.  "  I  always  take  the  most  precautions 
against  those  next  me.  Ask  my  son,  though  he  is  only  eight 
years  old,  and  my  sister,  Mdme.  de  Thianges.  Still,  if  you 
would  be  a  little  more  definite  ?" 

41  Harm  comes  from  a  woman  whom  you  will  have  reared. 
Beware  of  disgrace  through  a  woman-friend." 

The  hearer  reflected  for  a  while  ,  then  she  rejoined  with 
dark  and  threatening  energy  : 

"Thanks  for  the  warning.  I  shall  not  forget  it.  But 
whom  will  dare,  in  the  court  of  France,  dispute  with  me 
the  inheritance  of  that  wretch  Fontanges  *  Those  who 
would  rob  me  of  my  royal  lover  know  too  well  that  I  am 
not  a  La  Valliere,  and  that  there  it  but  oneAthenias  de  Morte« 
mart.  For  all  others,  the  royal  couch  will  be  a  death-bed!" 

The  visitress  with  the  pale  complexion  and  fair  curls  re* 


64  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

placed  the  first  client  in  the  diviner's  study  a  few  instaatt 
after.  The  prophetess  bowed  to  her  with  tokens  of  the  deep- 
est respect  She  refused  the  hand  which  was  held  out  to 
her. 

**  I  do  not  need  it  to  raise  a  corner  of  the  veil  over  the 
future.  Enough  for  me  to  look  upon  your  face  where  I  seo 
the  traces  of  tears  bur  lately  brushed  away.  For  you  have 
suffered — sickness,  poverty  and  humiliations." 

"  The  last  particularly,"  said  the  other  with  bitterness. 

'*  When  but  a  child,  your  parents  were  driven  from  theii 
native  land  across  the  ocean.  You  fell  into  a  trance  on  the 
voyage  so  like  death,  that  the  ship's  doctor  ordered  you  to 
be  thrown  over  the  board*  but  in  embracing  you  for  the  last 
time,  your  mother  felt  your  cheek  to  be  moist,  your  heart  tq> 
throb  lightly,  and  you  were  taken  back  to  the  cabin  whera 
you  opened  your  eyes.'* 

44  This  is  true — my  mother  saved  me." 

**  Two  years  subsequently,  when  you  were  drinking  milk 
on  the  grass,  a  deadly  snake  approached  you  and  your 
•other  had  barely  time  to  catch  you  by  the  hand  and 
snatch  you  away ;  but  the  snake  did  not  pursue  you— it 
stopped  to  drink  the  milk." 

"  That  is  true  :  but  why  revive  these  memories  ?' 

"  Merely  to  prove  that  the  Almighty  hand  has  never 
ceased  to  be  extended  over  you.'* 

**  Why  should  He  abandon  one  who  has  never  ceased  to 
trast  in  His  mercifulness  ?" 

"Fate  ruled  that  you,  young  and  charming,  should  be 
wedded  to  an  old  invalid  who  bequeathed  you  the  pension 
which  had  helped  him  to  subsist,  but  which .  you  long  sued 
for  until  recently " 

"When  the  munificence  of  his  Majesty  restored  it  to  w.* 

"You  have  the  consolation  of  another  marriage,"  suggested 
the  fortune-teller. 

4 'Remarry  ?  who  would  have  me?"  questioned  the  young 
widow,  disconsolately.  "I  am  not  a  girl  and  I  am  poor.1' 

"Still,"'  said  the  soothsayer,  44you  will  marry  for  the 
second  time,  and  he  who  will  select  you  to  be  linked  with 
h<m  in  glorious  destiny,  will  have  UQfle  above  him  a»ve  the 
King  of  Heaven." 

4  *  What  do  you  say  ?* 

MI  tell  you  that,  the  lower  ymir  sttrtuv*  potot,  t! 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  €5 

you  will  swar.  The  goal  will  not  be  reached  by  the  proud 
woman  who  took  the  lead  of  you  just  now — never  will 
she  mount  to  the  rank  where  her  unscrupulous  ambition  al« 
lures  her.  Your  fortune  will  astound  the  world  and  history. 
A  new  Esther,  you  will  take  your  place  on  the  throne  beside 
your  Ahasuuerus." 

4<  For  mercy's  sake,"  whispered  the  questioner, "  speak 

lower!     Were  you  to  be  heard  and  heeded " 

The  gleam  of  brightaess  in  her  eyes  faded  as  quickly  as 
it  had  been  kindled,  and  with  apparent  calmness,  she  re- 
sumed :  "But  no,  this  is  a  trick  of  your  craft:  or  you  are 
jesting  !  in  such  language  how  can  anything  serious  exist  ?" 
"  Nevertheless,  this  is  not  the  first  time  your  ears  have 
been  thrilled  with  such  a  promise.  Did  not  the  mason  Barbre", 
one  day,  in  the  Albert  mansion,  on  seeing  you,  burst  out 
with  this  prophecy:  'Behold  one  who  will  arrive  at  great- 
ness  over  the  thorny  path  ?*  The  truth  of  heaven  may  issue 
from  the  lowliest  lips.  To,  and  by,  the  least  worthy  may 
be  revealed  the  secret  of  its  impenetrable  will.  I  tell  you, 
that  your  woes  are  nigh  to  ending.  You  will  be  guided  out 
of  your  gloom  by  a  ray  from  the  crown  of  France,  in  the 
same  way  as  your  mother's  smile  called  you  out  of  the  cloud 
•of  death.  Adversity  will  flee  from  you  like  the  snake  that 
threatened  your  life.  A  great  monarch  will  love  you,  and 
make  you  his  wife — you  will  be  the  Queen." 

She  paused  as  if  worn  out,  and  raised  her  eyes  to  the  ceil- 
ang  as  an  actress  glances  towards  the  prompter,  for  inspir- 
ation. 

By  a  prodigious  self-command  the  hearer  calmed  her  feat- 
ures, and  closed  her  eyes  as  though  the  dazzling  vision  had 
overcome  her:  thanks  to  this  temporary  abstraction,  she  did 
not  perceive  the  passing  sight  of  a  face  with  blue  eyes  and  red 
hair  which  appeared  at  a  trap  door  in  the  ceiling,  and  re- 
plied to  the  soothsayer's  interrogating  look  with  a  smile 
At  this  moment  the  door  tapestry  was  lifted,  and  the  third 
visitor  showed  her  head.  She  also  held  a  purse  and  sh* 
wid,  in  a  pleading  voice: 

"  Dear,  dear,  am  I  never  to  have  my  turn  and  a  share  i» 
the  good  things  on  fate's  table?" 

But  the  fortune-teller  was  making  a  low  reverence  to  th» 
iUture  Queen  of  France,  and  respectfully  said- 

**  Only  when  you  have  the  means  and  the  power,  be  good 


44  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

to  the  brave  poor,  as  on  the  whole  the  world  has  been  to  you 
who  bear  your  poverty  so  bravely." 

"  Eh,"  said  the  intruder,  advancing  a  little,  *  I  did  the 
honor  to  ask  if  you " 

"  Madame,"  replied  the  witch  to  the  speaker,  "  I  hava 
nothing  to  tell  you  but  this.  Albeit  you  are  the  Lady  of 
Heudicourt,  and  niece  of  a  marshal  of  France,  you  will  not 
the  less  be  expelled  from  the  court  on  account  of  your  spite- 
ful tongue." 

The  astonished  woman  crushed  up  in  her  hand  the  purse, 
and  hastened  to  withdraw  with  her  two  companions. 

Hardly  had  the  negro  boy  closed  the  outer  door  on  them 
before  the  soothsayer,  who  had  sunk  on  the  large  chair,  was 
joined  by  the  owner  *of  the  fair  face  with  red  hair  who  had 
peeped  through  the  sliding  panel  in  the  ceiling.  This  fam- 
iliar, who  had  no  doubt  whispered  to  his  voice  the  cues  for 
her  foretelling,  was  an  English-looking  man  of  good  appear- 
ance, except  for  his  eyes  being  watery  and  having  drooping 
lids.  With  such  eyes  he  must  be  a  skillful,  hardened,  perfid- 
ious knave.  He  was  the  individual  distinguished  in  the  exam- 
ination of  the  culprits  of  the  Great  Poisoning  Case  as  "the 
Englishman,"  or  "the  wool-merchant,"  he  being  neither  in 
reality.  He  was  the  leading  spirit  of  the  band,  and,  like  most 
ringleaders,  had  escaped,  where  his  tools  suffered. 

"Well,  did  I  do  the  part  well  ?"  queried  the  woman,  throw- 
ing back  the  cowl  and  revealing  the  face  of  a  pleasing  and 
pretty  girl,  who  eyed  the  man  with  a  sort  of  terrified,  fasci- 
nated expression. 

"Not  bad,  Theresa,  but  for  one  omission — you  ought  to 
have  had  Mdme.  d'Heudicourt's  purse  before  you  gave  her 
her  prophecy.  Luckily,"  he  added,  coolly  donning  a  hat 
hanging  beside  the  arras  and  a  sword  and  belt  in  another 
hiding-place,  "they  will  not  have  gone  far." 

"Oh,  Walton,  what  would  you  do?"  cried  the  girl,  trying, 
but  with  a  timid  gesture,  to  restrain  him. 

"Carry  out  the  motto  of  your  esteemed  mother  La  Voisin, 
and  your  father,  now  lodged  in  the  Bastille — recover  the 
purse  which  you  allowed  to  slip  your  fingers — what  the  lit- 
tle finger  loses,  let  the  thumb  regain." 

And  he  darted  out  of  the  mysterious  house  on  the  traci 
Of  the  three  ladies  of  the  court. 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  67 

CHAPTER  IX. 

BRITTANY   TO   THE   RESCUE  I 

LEFT  alone  on  the  threshold  of  the  coach-yard  inn,  Joel  fell 
ft  deep  sinking  at  his  lonesomeness  in  the  great  city. 

He  looked  round  dismayed  at  the  strange  sights  and  the 
unknown  people.  He  would  willingly  have  rushed  into  the 
arms  of  the  first  acquaintance  lie  spied,  even  had  that  been 
the  young  gentleman  who  had  insulted  him  at  Locmana. 
But  he  was  not  the  man  to  dwell  long  in  torpor  and  dis- 
couragement. Something  drew  him  forth  with  a  sudden  pang: 
it  was  his  appetite.  Our  Breton  had  that  of  his  time  of  life 
and  of  his  illustrious  ancestor. 

He  recalled  the  fact  that  he  had  not  eaten  since  the  morn* 
ing. 

"  I  must  find  a  house,  and  a  table  well  spread  within  it," 
be  said  to  himself. 

Reflecting  on  what  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  had  said  on  quit- 
ting him,  about  her  going  to  live  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
Place  Royale,  he  concluded  that  it  was  there  he  ought  to 
find  lodgings,  but  first  he  had  to  find  that  quarter. 

Enquiring  of  a  passenger,  he  learnt  the  dire'ction,  which 
took  him  through  the  St.  Honore"  gate,  and  the  street  of  the 
same  name. 

The  length  of  the  walk  did  not  deter  him,  for  he  had  stout 
legs.  The  long  sword  of  Porthos,  however,  discommoded 
him  by  slapping  against  his  calves,  for  he  had  not  been  in 
the  habit  of  wearing  a  sword  at  Locmaria.  This  constant 
beating  made  him  fretful  and  slackened  his  gait.  Add  the 
multitude  of  novelties  which  detained  him  as  he  strolled,  while 
the  Parisians  stopped  to  stare  at  him,  amazed  by  his  Breton 
dress  and  his  bewildered  air.  But  the  quip  and  the  laugh 
died  on  their  lips  when  they  saw  how  he  towered  above 
their  heads  and  had  broad  shoulders  to  support  the  rebuke 
he  would  certainly  have  administered  to  any  jester.  But 
still  all  tended  to  delay  him  :  so  that  it  was  dusk  when  he 
reached  the  Palais  Royal,  and  dark  at  the  Rue  Croix  des 
Petits-Champs,  where,  it  being  a  crossing  point  of  streets,  he 
halted  to  ask  his  way  once 


68  THE  SON  OF  PORTHUS;  OX, 

The  worst  of  it  was  that  the  passers-by  were  few.  With 
the  twilight,  doors  and  blinds  were  closed. 

In  these  days,  Paris  went  to  rest  early. 

It  was  at  tins  hour  that  the  three  clients  of  the  witch  came 
Into  the  Rue  St.  Honore". 

A  little  beyond  them,  a  man  debouched  into  the  same 
street  from  a  dark  and  tortuous  alley  which  few  would  care 
to  tread.  It  was  the  man  called  Walton,  who  had  followed 
the  women  in  the  manner  familiar  to  thieves  and  police 
spies — in  other  words,  he  divined  their  route  and  ran  by  a 
short  cut  to  precede  them.  But  he  kept  under  cover  of  the 
overhanging  eaves  and  signs,  and  they  did  not  perceive  him 
at  the  first.  Besides,  all  their  attention  was  directed  to- 
wards Joel,  who  was  decidedly  endeavoring  to  accost  them. 
In  fact,  he  had  no  sooner  descried  them  than,  taking  them 
for  three  good-wives  hastening  home,  he  aimed  to  ask  his 
road  of  them. 

He  quickened  his  pace  to  catch  up  with  them.  They 
took  fright  and  began  to  run,  which  was  into  the  arms  ol 
Walton,  who  had  but  to  turn  at  any  time  to  entrap  them. 
But  the  Bretons  are  headstrong,  and  in  this  respect,  Joel 
was  doubly  a  Breton.  Fast  as  the  women  fled,  so  he  gave 
chase. 

It  was  a  commonplace  interruption  to  the  grave  thoughts 
with  which  the  trio  had  quitted  the  prophetess.  Mdme. 
d'Heudicourt  was  still  confounded  by  the  saucy  retort  o^ 
the  strange  witch;  the  fair  marchioness  had  a  crease  in  th<i 
forehead  which  denoted  deep  meditation.  And  the  dark* 
complexioned  future  queen  was  dreaming  of  her  coronation 
robes. 

They  were  hurrying  along  when  they  first  heard  Joel's 
•nartial  step. 

Paris  by  night  had  no  other  illuminators,  the  moon  ex- 
cepted,  than  lanterns  which  the  police  regulations  ordered 
to  be  hung  out.  To  the  number  of  sixty,  they  were  supposed 
to  give  sufficient  light  for  the  half-million  inhabitants.  Th* 
result  was  that  with  the  last  sunbeam,  the  doleful  thorough- 
fares were  transformed  into  prowling  grounds  for  beggars, 
mostly  sturdy,  thieves  of  all  sorts,  pickers-up  of  drunken 
men  to  rob  them  or  of  any  other  trifles,  and  the  scum  gener- 
ally. 

On  finding  themselves  pursued,  the  three  ladies  exchanged 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM1S.  69 

a  glance  <Jf  growing  disquiet.  Without  speaking,they  pressed 
on.  But  they  not  only  failed  to  outstrip  the  hunter,  but 
they  did  not  overtake  the  ingenious  Walton,  who  kept  in, 
advance  to  execute  the  manoeuvre  of  separating  Mdme. 
d'Heudicourt,  who  had  not  left  her  purse,  from  her  compan- 
ions. 

''Beyond  doubt,"  said  the  brunette,  "we  are  followed." 

"It  is  an  armed  man,**  said  Mdme.  d'Heudicourt :  "  I 
caught  a  glimmer  of  the  light  through  broken  shutters  on 
the  hilt  of  his  rapier." 

The  tall  blonde  said  nothing,  but  she  thought:  *'  I  dare- 
say I  have  been  recognized,  as  easily  as  the  fortune-teller 
told  me,  I  have  a  host  of  enemies  in  the  court,  and  they 
may  have  hired  a  bravo  to  kill  me  in  the  streets." 
The  three  took  the  turn  which  led  them  to  the  waterside  by 
the  Louvre  Palace.  A  prey  to  growing  terror,  they  huddled 
together  panting,  and  feeling  their  hearts  thump  as  though 
to  burst. 

"Merciful  powers,  I  can  go  no  further/'  murmured  the 
marshal's  niece. 

The  dark  woman  was    also  nearly  swooning,    and  she 
breathed  :  "We  can  never  reach  the  St.  Jacques  ward." 

"Keep  on,"  said  the  third  to  give  them  courage,  "  here  is 
the  New  Bridge  (Pomt  Neuf).  We  may  meet  some  pa- 
trol or  the  night  watch." 

They  did  not  know  that  the  watchmen  were  very  careful 
how  they  marched  around  for  fear  that  they  would  meet 
some  band  of  highwaymen,  angry  if  interrupted  in  their  work 
of  revelers;  who  Would  fight  with  them. 

Thinking  to  reach  the  only  possible  protection,  they  has- 
tened still  more  but  suddenly  a  fresh  terror  arose  in  their 
path;  it  was  Walton,  who  thought  that  his  time  to  intervene 
had  come  as  he  spied  Joel,  and  from  his  presistency  in  dog- 
ging the  fugitives,  was  naturally  taken  for  a  prowler  of  the 
like  mind.  To  avoid  being  caught  between  the  two,  the 
ladies  dived  into  the  first  opening.  It  was  a  dark  court, 
and  unfortunately  for  them,  a  blind  alley,  or  no  thorough- 
tare. 

"Turnagain  lane,"  chuckled  Walton,  to  whom  these  back- 
ways  had  no  secrets  :  "They  are  in  the  trap,  pretty  pigeons.'* 

At  the  same  instant  he  and  Joel  came  to  the  mouth  of 
the  defile.  They  gave  a  glance  at  each  other,  but  all  was 


70  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOSj  OR, 

dark  and  neither  could  well  distinguish  the  other's 
*r  the  details  of  the  costume.  The  sorceress's  colleague 
therefore  continued  in  his  delusion  that  he  had  met  a  roamet 
of  bis  species,  and  accosted  him  familiarly : 

"They  will  be  obliged  to  come  back  into  our  arms,  com* 
rade.  I  suppose  it  will  be  the  usual  division:  share  and  share 
alike  ?  The  little  one,  I  know,  carries  a  purse." 

"Zounds!"  exclaimed  the  Breton,  surprised  and  indignant, 
"do  you  take  me  for  a  thief  and  molester  of  women  r" 

The  mock  Englishman  imagined  that  the  protest  was, 
ironical,  and  promptly  rejoined  : 

<;Ha,  ha!  that  is  a  good  one.  It  is  agreed,  then?  the  purse 
to  be  divided,  and  the  women  to  fall  to  us  as  chance  directs. 
They  are  not  ferocious,  to  be  out  after  dark,  three  dolls  who 
seek  adventures.  Here  they  come,  lad  !" 

"And  there  you  go,  villain  !"  shouted  our  exasperated 
gallant,  as,  scorning  to  use  even  the  flat  of  b's  sword  on  such 
a  despicable  ruffian,  he  delivered  to  Walton  so  formidable 
a  slap  with  his  hand  thai  the  unlucky  scamp  rolled  in  the 
gutter. 

Simultaneously  the  three  ladies  returned  :  they  had  found 
no  way  out,  and  had  determined  to  throw  themselves  on  the 
mercy  of  the  cutpurses,  by  giving  up  their  money,  and,  as  a 
last  resort,  to  threaten  them  with  dire  chastisement  in  an* 
nounctng  their  real  quality. 

What  was  their  astonishment,  not  merely  to  see  a  brief 
wrangle  between  the  two  men  terminate  by  one  knocking 
th«;  other  senseless,  but  the  victor,  taking  off  his  hat  with  4 
flourish,  very  naturally  inquire  in  a  frank,  round  voice: 

"Excuse  me,  ladies,  but  may  I  ask  the  right  road  to  the 
Place  Royale?" 

''The  women  felt  inclined  to  laugh  hysterically;  but  one, 
mastering  the  revulsion  of  feeling  which  filled  them  with  re- 
lief, said. 

"What!  was  it  to  ask  your  way  that-: ** 

I  was  forced  to  gallop  after  you  this  quarter  of  an  hour? 
lust  so,  my  ladies;  and  I  mean  no  blame  to  you  when  I  say 
that  you  gave  me  as  much  trouble  as  a  rabbit  in  the  open." 

"  Then  you  are  not  a  robber  ? "  went  on  the  questioner, 
ready  to  laugh. 

"That  is  what  that  fellow  thought  whom  I  knocked  into 
the  kennel  for  the  uncomplimentary  opinion.  Tell  me,  are 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  71 

there  so  many  robbers  in  your  city  that  every  stranger  is 
taken  to  be  one  also?  I  am  but  an  unfortunate  stranger  as- 
tray in  Paris.5" 

"A  stranger?" 

"I  have  just  alighted  from  the  Nantes  coach,  and  come 
from  where  I  was  born  and  always  have  lived — Belle-Isle- 
in-the-Sea. 

The  dark  woman  whispered  to  the  tall  fair  one  : 

"  It  seems  right.  I  recognize  his  attire.  It  is  that  of  the 
better  class  of  Bretons  in  the  country." 

Mdme.  d'Heudicourt  pointed  to  Walton,  wallowing  with- 
out motion  in  the  gutter,  and  asked: 

"  Is  he  killed  ?" 

u  That  rogue  who  befouls  the  heap  of  mud?  I  think  not, 
unless  his  cheek  is  as  weak  as  his  morals.  I  struck  only  with 
my  open,  bare  hand.  But,  if  you  will  supply  me  with  the 
directions  I  need,  I  will  make  my  bow  and " 

The  fact  was,  hunger  was  pinching  him  again. 

"One  moment,  sir !"  It  was  the  one  of  the  three  who  had 
been  greeted  by  the  witch  as  the  Marchioness  of  Montespan, 
and  her  hand  was  laid  on  Joel's  arm  to  prevent  his  retreat. 

"What  more  can  I  do  for  your  service  ?"  he  inquired, 
rather  impatiently  and  not  in  the  least  agitated  by  the  con- 
tact— for  he  could  but  faintly  distinguish  the  ravishing  shape 
of  the  unrivalled  hand  and  arm. 

"Sir,  I  take  you  to  be  a  brave  and  gallant  cavalier " 

"Brave?  I  do  not  know  so  much  about  that,  if  the  test  be 
to  chastise  a  knave  like  that.  Gallant?  I  try  to  be  as  much 
so  as  a  poor  country  bumpkin  may  be,  who  knows  nothing 
of  fine  city  manners.  As  for  being  a  cavalier,  I  only  want  a 
horse  for  that." 

His  tone  was  so  clear  and  sprightly  that  the  marchioness 
studied  him  closely,  as  well  as  the  poor  light  allowed,  and 
remarked  that  he  was  by  his  carriage,  robust  but  free  and 
even  elegant,  a  man  of  good  race  and  not  deformed  by  labor 
in  the  fields.  So  she  modified  the  haughtiness  in  her  voice 
and  bearing,  and  continued  : 

"My  cavalier,  I  have  a  request  to  make.  My  friend?  and  I 
have  been  misled  so  as  to  be  some  distance  from  our  dwell- 
ings. Another  such  misadventure  might  rise  in  out  path — 
Ugly  meetings  are  so  frequent  in  this  quarter.  We  cannot 
disoense  with  the  shield  of  vour  arm  and  your  ready  cour- 


7«  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS; 

age.  Do  not  leave  us,  weak  and  lonely,  in  the  dead  of  night 
Pray  accompany  us,  and  be  by  us  for  defense  until  we  are 
indoors." 

"  Oh,  indeed,  do  not  leave  us  to  ourselves,"  entreated 
Mdme.  d'Heudicourt. 

The  last  of  the  trio  said  nothing,  but  her  large  eyes  were 
most  eloquent  in  their  mute  appeal. 

At  this  triple  call,  our  hero  drew  his  belt  more  tightly  to 
quell  that  wolfish  hunger,  and  likewise  overcome  a  yielding 
to  weariness,  he  showed  he  had  the  mettle  of  a  knight  by 
Baying,  and  meaning  it: 

"Ladies,  use  me  as  your  own." 

They  walked  in  the  direction  of  the  St.  Jacques  suburb. 
The  convoy  was  apparently  completely  encouraged.  A  very 
little  more  would  have  set  them  laughing  at  their  recent 
flight  and  fright. 

"Ladies,"  said  Joel,  who  found  the  silence  a  burden, 
"there  is  a  saying  that  all  roads  lead  to  Rome.  I  should  be 
really  downright  glad  to  know  if  you  have  any  such  a  prov- 
erb here,  regarding  the  Royal  Place,  and  does  every  road 
lead  thither?" 

*'  Are  you  bound  to  proceed  to  that  olace  ?'"  inquired 
Mdme.  d'Heudicourt. 

"Rather  :  for  I  have  acquaintances  thereabouts,"  re- 
sponded the  youth,  blushing,  "Persons  whom  I  ought  to  keep 
pear  to,  in  order  to  lend  them  assistance  at  call." 

"And  would  you  walk  through  the  town  at  night  to  offer 
them  that  ?" 

"Why  not  ?" 

"Alone  ?" 

"  A  man  is  never  alone  when  his  sword  is  by  him.*' 

"Ah  !  that  is  rather  a  neat  retort,"  muttered  the  brunette 
to  the  blonde.  What  do  you  think  of  him  ?" 

The  latter  made  no  reply,  for  she  was  busy  in  weighing 
the  capabilities  of  the  youth.  To  cope  with  her  enemies,  be- 
sides the  poison  phial,  she  might  require  the  sword  of  the 
bravo;  and  one  who  was  attached  to  her  by  an  affection  which 
she  doubted  not  she  could  at  will  enkindle,  would  be  worth 
the  mercenary.  Joel  did  not  even  guess  the  scrutiny  of  which 
he  was  the  object. 

"  But  good  friend  as  a  long  sword  i>."  he  remarked,  "  it 
S,  as  now.  of ttimes  in  the  way,  to  say  nothing  of  its  not  suit* 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  yj 

ing  tny  dress — your  pert  Parisian  boys  have  already  made  m« 
remark  that,  a  murrain  befall  them  ?"  Then  as  they  passed 
under  a  swinging  lamp,  he  subjoined  in  the  same  spirit  oi 
apology,  *'  it  is  a  costume  that  has  turned  many  a  head  here, 
all  the  same  ;  though,  for  that  matter,  an  honest  heart  may 
beat  under  it  as  under  any  other  more  in  the  mode." 

"  What  may  your  name  be  ?"  inquired  the  fair  woman. 

"  I  am  not  sure  what  it  might  be,  but  it  is  Joel,  for  want 
of  a  better:  can  I  ask  yours  ?" 

"Athenais." 

"Bravo!  it  suits  you  like  a  glove!" 

"  Do  you  mean  that  ?" 

*'  Why,  to  be  sure,  for  it  is  noble,  majestic  and  impos- 
ing." 

"  And  do  you  think  I  am  a  little  that  way  ?" 

"  Wholly-~you  look  like  a  great  lady  of  the  royal  court!'* 

"  Look  at  that,  now  !  a  compliment  !  it  is  plain  that 
Brittany  has  become  part  of  France  !" 

She  kept  her  eyes  on  him  more  closely  than  before.  He 
had  pierced  the  incognito,  though  fresh  from  the  daisies. 

On  the  other  hand,  he  was  worthy  the  admiration  of  tha 
finest  court  lady.  His  tall  figure,  with  the  long,  stalwart 
limbs,  gave  his  very  movement  the  gracefulness  of  nature,  as 
in  a  wild  buck.  His  bashfulness  was  free  from  awkwardness, 
and  the  fiery  energy  of  his  features,  when  he  was  aroused  out 
of  his  placidity,  would  have  been  the  envy  of  a  prince.  The 
sham  citizen's  wife,  a  judge  of  men,  saw  clearly  in  his  eyes 
a  whole  poem  ot  audacious  candor. 

"  Ah  !  *  here  she  pretended  to  slip.  "Oh,  Squire  Joel, 
the  pavement  is  so  slippery — and  the  night  as  black  as  in  an 
oven — let  me  beg  you  to  offer  me  your  arm." 

"Only  too  proud,  Mistress  Athenais." 

He  crooked  the  elbow,  and  the  arm  of  "  Mistress  Athen- 
ais" was  pendent  on  his  own,  but  it  was  hers  alone  that 
slightly  quivered.  After  an  Aurore  du  Trernblay,  even  a 
Montespar.  — at  past  thirty,  at  least — fell  into  the  second 
place. 

They  were  now  at  St.  Michel's  place. 

"  Squire,"  said  the  monopolizing  marchioness,  "  1  wager 
that  you  have  come  to  town  to  seek  your  fortune." 

''  Guess  again,  and  you  will  be  wrong.  To  make  my  for« 
tune  is  the  pivot  of  my  dreams." 


74  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

"So  Dame  Fortune  is  the  only  one  of  the  fickle  sejc  thu 
attracted  you  ?" 

"Woman  ?  On  my  faith,  not  a  woman/ but  a  man  is  what 
I  am  in  quest  of." 

"Ah,  a  patron  lord,  of  course  ?° 

"A  lord,  I  believe  ;  but  more  than  a  patron  ;  the  arbiter 
of  my  future,  my  fate,  my  all." 

But  feeling  that  his  frankness  was  leading  him  too  far 
among  strangers,  he  interrupted  himself  by  exclaiming  : 

"A  turn  to  the  right— they  are  demolishing  that  ho»««, 
and  we  run  the  risk  of  the  night  breeze  dropping  a  stone  on 
our  heads — to  say  nothing  of  that  heap  of  rubbish." 

"  I  was  asking  you  of  whom  you  are  in  search  ?" 

"  A  little  to  the  left — mind  that  puddle  !  von  were  all  b»t 
stepping  into  it." 

She-  caught  his  eye  and,  shaking  her  finger  at  him,  she  said 
playfully  : 

"Oh,  you  Breton  backed  by  a  Norman  !  is  it  thus  that  you 
throw  the  hounds  off  the  scent  ?  All  your  politeness  was 
merely  to  keep  your  secret  from  me." 

"It  is  not  mine,"  observed  Joel,  gravely,  "  but  that  of  t 
woman  who  is  dead." 

"  Good  !  preserve  it.  That  is  not  the  kind  they  steal  in 
Paris,  and  I  am  not  in  the  habit  of  fawning  to  obtain  my 
ends.  Still,  hearken  !  If  chance  brings  it  about  that  you 
do  not  gain  from  the  person  in  question,  or  if  you  simply  do 
not  find  him,  what  will  you  do  ?" 

"Become  a  soldier  of  the  King,  and  go  and  seek  my  for- 
tune where  there  are  blows  and  strokes  to  receive  and 
give." 

"I  am  certain  that  you  will  make  your  way  in  the  army 
— if  you  boast  ever  so  little  of  good  birth  to  get  you  a  rank 
— or  if  you  have  a  friend  to  help  you  on." 

"What  kind  of  friend  ?" 

"One  who  is  devoted,  and  to  be  depended  upon,  and  hav- 
ing influence  so  that  you  could  be  presented  at  court " 

The  squire  burst  into  a  hearty  laugh. 

"Ho,  ho,  ho  !  Such  a  friend  must  have  so  long  in  arm 
that  she  could,  without  stooping,  untie  the  rosettes  on  her 
shoes.  Even  in  Paris  such  friends  are  not  rained  down 
from  the  skies.'* 

"Spite  of  that,  you  shall  not  die  in  want  of  them — I  give 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  75 

you  my  word  on  it.     With  your  good  looks  and  your  valor 

The  doubting  youth  began  to  hum  a  Christmas  canticle, 
which  begins  with  the  well-known  words: 
"Let's  go  unto  the  church 
To  hear  a  sermon  fine——" 

She  interrupted  the  sarcastic  lines  by  abruptly  demand- 
ing . 

''My  companion,  have  you  not  a  sweetheart  ?" 

They  were  now  in  the  St.  Jacques  ward.  The  marchioness* 
itompanions  trotted  on  discreetly  a  few  paces  behind  the  pair, 
pretending  not  to  listen  but  straining  themselves  to  over- 
hear. Little  Mdme.  d'Heudicourt — whom  St.  Simon,  the 
memoir-writer,  describes  as  "merry,  but  bitter  as  gall" — she 
had  characterized  La  Montespan  by  saying  "She  would  en- 
t  ice  all  the  saints  in  the  celendar,  after  having  entangled  the 
Apostles." 

But  our  wary  hero  remained  dumb  to  the  leading  ques- 
•  ion.  It  had  called  up  in  his  mind  the  image  of  Aurore, 
•,«nd  he  saw  her  walking  up  the  hills  of  the  Saumur  highway 
•vith  her  graceful  figure  imparting  sinuous  movements  to  her 
dress  ;  her  straw  hat,  for  the  journey,  dangling  on  her  arm 
oy  its  ribbons,  and  the  breeze  swung  it  and  tossed  her 
nair. 

At  length,  in  a  voice  that  betrayed  genuine  passion,  he  an» 
swered:  "I  have  not  what  we  call  a  sweetheart,  but  one  that 
is  my  beloved." 

*'  Heavens  !  and  how  long  have  you  been  in  that  predica- 
ment ?" 

"  To  tell  the  truth,  lady — only  this  evening." 

"  And  how  did  you  find  it  out  ?" 

*'  Quite  easily  :  by  my  feelings.  My  pulse  beat  as  if  I  had 

,  fever;  the  blood  rushed  about  me  as  though  it  was  water 

when  a  dam  has  burst,  and  the  blood  seemed  an  inflamabta 

fluid.     My  heart  grew  too  large  for  the  breast  ;  and  my 

temples  were  encircled  by  a  crown  of  fire  !" 

''Why,  this  is  the  grand  passion,  or  I  am  no  Judge,"  she 
•exclaimed  with  a  cooing  like  a  dove.  "Such  a  flame  as  is 
not  often  encountered — the  real  one,  good  and  ardent." 

"Never  betove  did  womankind  produce  such  an  effect  ai. 
»ne!  deuce  tak^  me  if  it  seemen  natural!" 

The  lady's  &  Uted  eyes  .darted  a  stream  of  fire.    The  guilt* 


76  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  ORt 

less  rustic  was  making  her  fancy  that  he  was  declaring  sud« 
den  love  for  her. 

"Ah,  what  could  a  man  give  in  return  for  such  love?"  she 
inquired. 

"  All  that  I  have — nothing  too  speak  of — my  life!" 

He  drew  himself  up  to  Ins  full  height,  with  the  heroism 
of  his  ancestors,  Antoine,  Gaspard,  Porthos,  glowing  in  him. 
She  was  struck  dumb  for  a  space  with  admiration. 

*'So  you  would  defend  this  idol  against  anybody?  " 

"Certainly!" 

"And  if  any  one  plotted  her  injury " 

Deadly  pallor  overspread  the  Breton's  lineaments  ;  for  an 
instant  he  dwelt  motionless;  then  his  body  seemed  to  grow; 
his  long  locks  seemed  to  turn  to  rays  around  his  head  as  in 
pictures  of  the  Archangel  Michael  ;  one  expected  a  flood  of 
burning  words  to  rush  from  his  lips.  But  he  murmured 
solely  this  in  a  hollow  voice  : 

"  I  would  kill — were  it  you  !" 

**What?"  screamed  the  marchioness,  "you  would  kill, 
even  me  ?  I  do  not  understand  !  then,  you  did  not  mean 
me  ?" 

"  I  would  stab  the  King  himself,  if  the  King  intended 
mischief  to  Aurore " 

"Aurore  ?"  she  repeated,  eyeing  him  in  stupefaction,  ''You 
said  Aurore  ?  who  bears  that  name  ?" 

"  The  lady  to  whom  I  have  given  my  heart." 

"  Oh,  the  lady  of  your  love  ?" 

*'  I  have  never  loved  elsewhere — I  shall  never  love  but 
her,  and  she  is  going  to  be  my  wife  as  soon  as  I  conquer 
what  will  make  me  worthy  of  her  hand  and  her  affection — 
name,  rank  and  fortune  !" 

The  marchioness  tore  her  arm  from  the  speaker's,  and 
said  curtly,  as  he  now  looked  at  her  in  astonishment  : 

"  We  have  arrived,  and  no  longer  need  your  kind  of- 
fices." 

Here  stood  a  low,  mournful  and  sprawling  house,  stand- 
ing back  in  a  garden  with  a  yard  in  front,  behind  high  walls. 
The  two  stories  had  a  mansard  roof,  and  the  two  wings  were 
for  domestic  offices  and  stables.  On  account  of  the  color  of 
the  stones  and  the  slate  roof,  the  neighbors  called  it  the 
Grey  House. 

The  coachyard  doors  were  on  the  street  ;  at  the  bang  of 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  % 

the  knocker  on  them,  an  old  servant  came  to  open  and  show 
them  all  into  the  yard. 

"  Honorin,  have  the  horses  put  to  the  carriage,"  com- 
manded the  lady  whom  Joel  had  specially  escorted  as  she 
crossed  the  threshold. 

"  Is  your  ladyship  returning  to  St.  Germain's  ?"  respect- 
fully inquired  the  man. 

"  No  ;  I  am  going  to  pass  the  night  here.  It  is  to  drive 
this  gentleman  to  the  Place  Royale." 

She  nodded  coldly  to  our  Breton,  who  was  buffeted  from 
one  surprise  to  another. 

"  Methinks  that  is  where  the  lovely  object  of  your  flame, 
so  eloquently  painted,  deigns  to  dwell  on  earth  ?"  she 
sneered. 

At  this  moment,  a  boy  of  about  eight  years  appeared  on 
Ihe  doorsteps  ;  he  wore  a  royal  scarlet  velvet  suit,  trimmed 
with  rich  lace  of  gold  and  silver  thread:  he  wa^  blessed  with 
an  intelligent  face,  fine  but  melancholy  in  tht  catures,  but 
Cursed  with  a  club  foot  and  cne  leg  being  drawn  up  shorter 
than  the  other.  He  hobbled  along  to  throw  himself  into 
the  dark  woman's  arms,  covering  her  with  kisses  and  crying 
<mt  in  delight: 

"  So  you  have  come  home  at  last,  dear  mother!  I  could 
?tot  go  to  bed  until  I  saw  you,  from  fear  that  some  mishap 
had  happened  to  you." 

"My  lord,"  said  the  recipient  of  these  tokens  of  affection, 
**Do  you  not  see  the  marchioness  your  mother?" 

Thus  rebuked,  the  boy  turned  towards  the  Marchioness 
tie  Montespan,  and  wished  her  "Good  evening!"  but  with* 
out  going  up  to  her. 

"  Tut,  tut!"said  the  marchioness,  biting  her  lip,  "here's  a 
to-do  because  your  governess  has  been  taken  away  from  you 
for  a  little  while!  Fie!  you  ought  to  be  asleep  at  this  hour, 
Louis.  Here,  d'Heudicourt,  take  him  to  his  rooms  and  see 
that  he  is  put  to  bed  instantly. 

D'Heudicourt  took  a  step  to  carry  out  the  order,  but  the 
little  cripple-prince  burst  into  tears  and  clung  to  his  govern- 
ess's skirts. 

"  My  lady,"  interposed  the  latter,  "  allow  me  to  manage 
this.  The  duke  will  never  go  off  to  rest  unless  I  sing  him  ta 
sleep  with  a  snatch  of  a  song,  or  tell  a  chapter  from  a  story." 

La  Montespan  snapped  her  fingers  in  indifference. 


78  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OK. 

"Do  as  you  please,  thou  pensonification  of  Wisdon!  I 
aao  ready  to  drop  with  fatigue,  and  intend  having  rest.  D' 
Heudicourt,  come  and  help  my  women  to  undress  me." 

Joel  had  stood  wonderstricken  by  all  that  he  saw  and 
heard. 

"  Young  master,"  she  proceeded,  "  It  is  always  folly  to 
set  the  burden  of  real  love  upon  one,  but  worse  when  one 
is  trying  to  reach  fortune — :then,  it  is  rank  stupidity." 

She  held  out  her  hand  to  him  in  a  way  that  indicated  he 
was  to  kiss  it,  which  he  did  on  the  finger  tips  :  and  she  sailed 
ap  the  steps  with  a  queenly  port.  The  governess  was  on  the 
terge  of  following  her,  having  taking  up  her  pupil  in  her 
»rms  to  spare  him  the  pains  of  mounting  the  steps  :  but  be- 
fore departing,  she  said  to  the  youth,  whose  tall  form  gave 
tim  the  aspect  of  an  exclamation-point  : 

'*  Squire  Joel,  here  comes  the  carriage  of  the  Marchiones* 
4e  Montespan,  which  will  set  you  down  wherever  you  like  to 
say.  My  noble  friend  has  omitted,  I  think,  to  thank  you 
for  the  service  done  us  I  remember  it  for  her.  If  ever 
you  have  need  of  my  services,  do  not  hesitate  to  come  and 
knock  at  this  door,  and  call  upon  Fran^oise  d'Aubigne,  the 
widow  of  the  Poet  Scarron." 


CHAPTER  X. 

rKIQUET  AT  FORTY. 

THE  inn  of  the  Moorish  Trumpeter  derives  its  title  from 
its  signboard,  which  swang  and  groaned  in  the  wind  over 
its  door  :  this  sheet  of  iron,  framed  in  oak,  rusted  by  the 
weather,  had  once  been  painted  by  some  budding  Raffaelle 
with  the  portrait  of  a  blackamoor  blowing  an  enormous  trum- 
pet. The  house  stood  in  the  street  called  Pas  de  la  Mule, 
which  ended  in  the  arcades  of  the  Place  Royal.  It  was  a 
venerable  structure  hiving  a  pepper-box  turret  on  the  roof, 
and  the  front  made  >  stonework  and  cross  beams.  The 
first  floor  above  ground  jutted  out  over  the  street,  and  con- 
tained a  lattice-windowed  roor  wnere  the  host  lodged  for 
one  night  or  longer,  any  one  not  coming  on  horseback.  He 
himself  slept  in  the  garret  wi*h  his  fiVst  drawer-of-wine— 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  -j\ 

the  only  one.  The  ground  floor  was  divided  between  the 
dining-room  and  the  kitchen,  without  there  being  even  a 
partition. 

The  part  bordering  on  the  street  was  given  up  to  the  cus- 
tomers. The  other  boasted  a  fireplace  in  which  an  ox 
might  have  been  roasted  whole.  But  on  holidays  this  gigan- 
tic feast  was  replaced  with  a  foul  or  a  joint  ;  now  a  leg 
of  mutton,  turning  on  a  spit  before  two  or  three  k.»s  on  the 
hearthstone.  Nothing  could  be  more  primitive,  or  business- 
like, than  this  eating-house  with  the  kitchen  on  the  premises. 
Here  were  the  tables  and  benches  shining  with  the  frequent 
application  of  elbows  and  the  customer's  breeches.  There, 
the  kitchen  pots  and  pans,  carefully  shining  like  gold  and 
silver  ware,  though  only  copper  and  pewter 

In  the  midst  of  these  objects,  was  hung  a  long  sword, 
crossed  by  the  long  spit  only  used  on  grand  feast  days. 

Master  Bonaventure  Bonlarron,  as  was  the  Trumpet's 
keeper — had  been  a  soldier  before  roasting  and  carving 
spring  chickens.  Sergeant  in  the  Laferte  Regiment  and 
wounded  by  a  musket  bullet  in  the  famous  charge  of  the 
Duke  of  Enghien  at  Rocroy,  he  had  most  unwillingly  laid 
down  his  arms  and  turned  his  flag  into  the  innkeeper's  apron. 
Not  that  he  had  lost  any  money  by  the  change  of  trade,  for 
the  inn  was  well  placed  to  coin  for  him  and  was  much 
frequented  from  its  neighborhood  to  the  Place  Royale.  But 
only  at  the  first,  wnen  it  was  the  fashion  to  drop  in  at  the 
Moor's  to  take  the  last  meal  before  going  to  fight  a  duel,  or 
toast  the  victor  when  the  party  returned  from  the  field  of 
honor.  But  Louis  XIV  had  never  forgotten  the  Revolution 
of  the  Fronde,  when  he  had  suffered  much  humiliation,  and 
he  was  severe  against  single  combats. 

The  golden  days  of  the  Moor  departed,  and  rarely  did  the 
master  see  among  his  peaceful  guests  one  or  two  of  the  bel- 
licaose  spirits  that  once  rattled  his  dishes  about  his  ears 
with  oaths  and  the  stamping  of  foot  with  which  the  swash- 
bucklers invited  the  antagonist  to  cross  steel. 

This  Sunday  evening.  Master  Bonlarron  was  alone  in  his 
establishment,  witK  his  waiter  Bistoquet.  The  former  was 
a  tall,  bony  man  wearing  a  cook's  dress  of  white,  but  even 
in  this  he  showed  tnat  he  was  warlike,  for  he  had  cocked 
the  cap  over  one  ear,  and  he  walked  from  kitchen  to  dining* 
room  with  a  swaggct* 


So  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

His  man  was  a  homely  lad  of  about  twenty,  with  long  awk. 
ward  limbs.and  gaunt  hands,  which  broke  more  dishes  than 
ogling  did  hearts  in  that  quarter. 

"Confound  my  luck  !"  ejaculated  the  innkeeper,  coming 
Co  a  halt  in  a  military  position  after  his  uneasy  stroll  ;  "Um 
good  old  days  seem  gone  forever,  when  handfuls  of  gold, 
from  the  noblest  purses  of  the  realm,  were  scattered  over 
these  very  tables  and  the  best  wines  of  my  vaults  flowed  lika 
water.  If  only  the  citizens  would  have  riots  with  the  sol* 
diery  I  but,  no,  they  all  are  content  to  sling  bad  words  at 
each  other  and  nobody  whips  out  a  knife.  It  is  disgusting  ! 
After  a  good  riot,  I  should  dish  up  my  mutton  to  the  surviv- 
ors, but  there  it  is,  roast  to  a  crisp  !  we  shall  have  to  eat  \\ 
Bistoquet." 

The  waiter  made  a  wry  face. 

"  Thank  you,  master,  very  much,  but  I  am  not  fond  ot 
dark  meat — it  is  black  as  the  Moor's  head  over  the  door,  o» 
a  lump  of  soot." 

"Well,  dish  it  up  and  put  it  on  the  table,  while  I  put  up  the 
shutters  and  bar  the  door  The  day  is  gone." 

And  the  cook-shopkeeper  moved  towards  the  door,  where, 
just  as  he  reached  the  sill,  a  joyous  voice  chirped  with  tho 
oily  accents  of  the  languid  Parisian  : 

"  All  hail,  mine  host  and  the  company  ?  Are  you  quite 
well  ?  so  glad  !  I  feel  that  way  myself  Which  noble  lord 
is  the  proprietor  of  this  casa,  as  the  Italians  say  ?" 

*'  I,  my  gentleman,'  responded  Bonlarron,  bowing  to  the 
customer,  who  came  so  late  and  addressed  him  so  merrily 

He  was  a  man  of  about  forty,  but  to  such  age  does  not 
count.  In  vivacity,  mirth,  quickness  and  briskness  he  was 
ever  a  boy  ,  but  the  %amin  of  Pan's,  who  would  lose  his  head 
to  have  a  jest  with  the  Grand  Seignior,  or  to  eat  the  Pope's 
favorite  dish  He  had  a  small,  round  face,  scarcely  wrinkled 
although  it  had  seen  all  kinds  of  hard  weather  :  inextin- 
guishably bright  eyes,  never  at  a  rest  :  a  turn  up-nose  :  prom- 
inent cheekbones,  tokens  of  tenacity  and  subtility  :  and  a 
sharp  chin.  He  wore  a  nondescript  dress,  which  might  have 
been  composed  on  a  battlefield  by  stripping  the  dead  of  all 
arms  :  the  legs  were  bound  with  leather  thongs  like  an  Italian 
mountaineer's  :  the  waist  had  a  wide  woolen  sash  like  a 
Spaniard's;  his  body  was  encased  in  a  buff  leather  coat  such 
as  used  to  be  worn  under  armor;  he  had  a  dagger  and  a 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  $ 

sword  .nd  also  the  inkhorn  and  quill  which  lawyers  and  clerk 
carried  at  the  buttonhole  in  front  of  the  breastbone.     And 
small  cap  with  a  prodigiously  long  feather,  clasped  by  a  motv 
strous  piece  of  glass  which  had  been  cut  out  of  an  old  churcl 
window  and  in  vain  would  pass  for  a  ruby,, 

What  spoilt  him  was  the  small  size  and  fragility  of  his  legs* 
Sitting  down,  he  would  have  passed  muster  as  a  full-sized 
man,  but  on  his  feet  he  was  but  a  mannikin. 

He  skipped  nimbly  into  the  centre  of  the  dining-  room, 
which  Bistoquet  had  illuminated  by  applying  a  splinter  from 
the  fire  to  a  pair  of  hanging  lamps.  Thereupon  with  voi« 
ubility  and  without  awaiting  to  be  spoken  to,  he  prattled  : 

"Who  am  I?  gentlemen  of  the  fire  and  the  corkscrew,  yoia 
Bee  the  prodigal  son.  I  am  a  son  of  Paris  who  returns  to  his 
native  city,  the  unrivalled,  the  inimitable,  and  I  grant  thai 
I  am  happy  again.  I  was  well  known  in  my  youth  in  the 
quarter  of  the  Cathedral ;  the  very  sparrows  that  pick  up 
crumbs  on  the  pavement  in  front,  know  Renaud  Friquet !" 
He  took  off  his  cap  to  his  own  name.  "I  was  choir-boy,  and 
at  my  own  hours,  wine-drawer  in  the  finest  drinking-trap  in 
the  Rue  de  Calandre.  Hail  to  you,  also  of  our  noble  pro- 
fession, that  of  St.  Boniface  !  But  do  not  for  a  moment 
think  that  I  am  trying  to  get  a  free  meal  on  the  strength  oS 
my  being  one  of  the  trade.  Tut,  tut !  I  am  on  the  high  roacj 
to  a  fortune — title,  rank,  and  I  know  not  what.  I  have  nos 
travelled  and  warred  over  half  the  world  not  to  pick  up  & 
valuable  secret  or  two.  Though  I  am  a  Parisian,  I  can  see 
farther  than  my  own  belfries.  Yes,  I  am  Little  Friquet. 
Albeit  the  old  King-demon  may  burn  me,  if  i  can  imagine 
why  !"  He  flipped  his  fingers  disdainfully.  "  As  if  a  gian- 
was  needed  when  a  hard  piece  of  work  is  to  be  done. 
Why,  our  King  is  no  taller  than  I,  even  on  the  celebrated 
high  heels  on  which  he  stalks."  He  waved  his  hand  for  the 
innkeeper  to  close  his  mouth.  "But  let  us  not  discuss  roy- 
alty and  policy.  Let  me  rather  talk  of  myself,  though  that 
is  repugnant  to  my  delicacy,  for  I  loathe  to  acquaint  the 
whole  world  and  his  wife  with  my  own  matters.  In  short,  1 
return  to  my  native  city,  where  I  was  a  boy  in  the  days  of 
the  Fronde  of  lively  memory,  with  a  letter  of  recommenda- 
tion to  the  Minister  of  the  Navy,  and  fifty  pistoles  which  I 
owe  to  the  munificence  of  his  cousin,  Lord  Colpert  du  Ter- 
ron,  Naval  Steward,  for  huving  saved  him  from  drowning  is 


3f  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

the  port  of  Rochelle.  You  see  that  it  needs  not  beir»g  a 
colossus  to  put  a  great  man  under  obligation  to  you.  So  I 
sailed  from  Rochelle  to  Havre,  and  came  up  to  Paris  by  the 
boat,  which  landed  me  at  Celestins  Wharf.  Now  I  stand  in 
need  of  a  good  meal  and  a  good  bed.  Are  you  prepared  to 
supply  yours  truly  with  one  and  the  other  >" 

"  My  master,  I  have  a  room  that  will  suit  your  lordship 
to  a  dot,"  answered  the  eating-house  proprietor,  with  the 
deference  due  an  eloquent  speaker  who  had  also  a  minister- 
ial letter  and  fifty  pistoles  in  his  pockets. 

"  That  is  fine  !  I  take  the  room." 

"  Besides,  if  your  lordship  will  deign  to  be  content  with 
a  prime  leg  of  mutton  that  I  was  reserving  for  my  own  table 

The  waiter  hid  his  smiling  mouth  with  his  hand. 

"  Mutton?  I  have  always  revelled  on  mutton.  Better  and 
better  !  I  will  deign.  You  shall  see,  my  friend,  that  though 
the  Parisians  are  reckoned  dainty,  I  can  ply  a  good  knife  and 
fork.  Old  Nick  devour  me  if  I  leave  you  more  than  the 
knuckle." 

"  Hold  !"  broke  in  another  voice  on  the  threshold/'  I 
hope  that  you  will  spare  me  a  slice." 

Everybody  turned  and  they  had  no  difficulty  in  seeing 
who  spoke,  for  the  tall  form  of  Joel  of  Locmaria  filled  up 
the  doorway.  He  came  from  the  part  where  he  had  left 
the  noble  dames  by  the  carriage  which  had  left  him  at  Royal 
Place.  There  he  was,  wandering  in  the  dark,  when  he  caught 
sight  of  the  light  of  the  inn,  in  an  anjacent  street.  He  steered 
towards  the  beacon,  and  with  unlooked-for  luck,  recognized 
the  tavern  sign  swinging  in  the  night  wind.  The  door  too, 
stood  ajar  for  the  better  welcome  to  the  famished  and  house- 
less. 

So  Joel  was  striding  in  quietly  and  waiting  for  a  favorable 
instant  to  make  his  modest  request  when  he  was  obliged  to 
hear  Little  Friquet's  harangue,  which  ended  with  a  prospect 
or  his  chance  of  a  meal  being  blocked. 

It  is  a  fact  founded  on  the  stupidity  of  man,  that  the  pig- 
mies have  always  hated  the  giants.  Friquet  was  no  excep- 
tion to  the  tradition,  for  he  eyed  the  taller  guest  with  imper- 
tinence, and  in  a  quarrelsome  tone,  demanded  his  business. 

"  Not  business,  but  a  pleasure,  I  expect,  "  replied  the 
Breton.  "  I  desire,  sir.  to  remind  YOU  of  a  saying  which  ss 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  *§} 

too,  who  are  clearly  a  genuine  gentleman.  Come,  now,  will 
you  let  this  pass,  and  be  my  friend?" 

"With  all  my  heart,"  replied  Joel,  imitating  his  action. 
"Our  hands  on  it;  we  will  be  friends  for  life,  until  death  do 
OS  part.  Now,  let  us  to  table,"  he  added,  merrily,  "  this 
fencing  within  four  walls  wondrously  sharpens  the  appetite. 
We  will  drink  to  the  prolongation  of  our  acquaintance." 

Master  Bonlarron  was  looking  around. 

"Hang  it  all,"  he  said,  "whatever  has  become  of  my  man  ? 
I  believe  this  king  of  cowards  has  fainted  away." 

"I  am  here,  master,"  breathed  a  gentle  voice  from  under 
the  table,  where  the  illustrious  Bistoquet  had  hidden  himself 
by  crawling. 

The  veteran  pulverized  him  by  a  scornful  glance  and 
bade  him  hasten  to  serve,  "though  you  are  but  ill  fitted, 
meseems,  to  wait  at  the  board  where  such  valorous  chevaliers 
deign  to  sit." 

The  guests  were  soon  sitting  up  to  the  joint;  it  was  em- 
inently tough  and  hard,  but  had  it  been  boot  leather,  it 
could  not  have  resisted  the  teeth  of  these  famished  Gara- 
gantuas.  Besides,  the  wine  at  the  Blackamoor  Trumpeter's 
was  delicious,  and  by  the  time  the  dessert  was  reached,  the 
four — for  the  juice  of  the  grape  made  them  lenient  even  to 
the  waiter — all  were  jolly  together.  The  ex-sergeant  told 
stories  of  thecamp,  march  and  field,  the  waiter  chirped  a  song 
of  his  own  composition,  and  the  new  friends  chatted  about 
their  hopes  and  dreams. 

Friquet,  whom  we  left  chorister  and  drawer  in  a  tavern, 
odd  servitor  of  the  spirit  divine  and  the  spirits  of  wine, had 
indeed  roved  far.  Finally  fostered  by  M.  Colbert  du  Terron, 
High  Steward  of  Rochelle,  he  had- learnt  a  good  deal  about 
the  navy  and  war.  He  had  invented  a  new  build  for  ships 
to  improve  their  speed;  and  other  "ingenious  devices,"  as 
they  said  then,  induced  the  steward  to  send  the  Parisian, 
back  to  his  native  city  to  see  if  he  might  not  falsify  the  old 
saying  about  prophets. 

On  his  side,  the  rustic  squire,  no  less  communicative  from 
the  good  wine,  narrated  the  events  heralding  his  birth,  those  of 
his  youth  and  what  had  occurred  on  the  road  and  in  the  town. 
What  most  struck  the  intelligent  hearer  was  the  names  of  the 
three  btothers-in-arms  of  Poithos,  which  were  to  serve  the 
as  stepping-stones  in  his  search. 


•4  THE  SON  OF  PORT  HO  S  ;  OR, 

into  the  eating-room,  with  Friquet's  form,  "1  can  never  thiiifc 
that  you  expect  to  absorb  alone  a  joint  of  those  dimensions." 

"Why  should  I  not  ?" 

"'Because  there  is  a  rule  against  it " 

"What  rule  is  there  against  it,  pray  ?" 

"The  rule  of  capacity  :  the  container  must  be  lager  than 
the  contents." 

The  landlord  rubbed  his  hands,  enchanted  at  the  joke, 
and  the  coarser  Bistoquet  laughed  out  aloud. 

Friquet  leaped  up  in  the  air  as  if  to  crack  his  heels  like  a 
gamecock,  and  when  he  came  down  he  had  drawn  his  sword. 

"Man,  you  have  insulted  me,  for  I  know  whether  I  am 
small  or  not.  But  I  do  not  allow  the  remark  to  be  made. 
'Sblood  !  you  shall  pay  me  for  these  affronts." 

The  landlord  can  put  it  in  the  bill.  But,  think,  when  we 
shall  have  cut  a  slash  or  two  in  our  skins " 

"You  seem  to  be  tender  about  yours?" 

"Well, yes  I  did  not  bring  a  change  out  of  Brittany." 

"The  truth  is  that  you  are  afraid." 

"Afraid  ?  I  do  not  know  all  the  words  in  the  Parisian 
jargon,  and  I  know  not  what  you  mean." 

While  Joel  was  saying  this  with  a  smile,  Bonlarron 
warmed  up  with  evident  gratification.  His  waiter  plucked 
him  by  the  sleeve." 

"Good  heavens!"  he  gasped,  "are  they  really  going  to  cut 
each  other's  throat  ?" 

*'I  expect  so,"  replied  the  tavernkeeper,  radiant  with  en- 
joyment: "and  if  only  the  luck  falls  that  one  of  them  shall 
be  laid  out  on  the  floor,  we  may  have  the  fashion  revived  to 
dine  here  after  duels  and  breakfast  before  them  !  proceed- 
ings to  which  I  owed  the  old-time  vogue  of  my  clouded  estab- 
lishment." 

"But  there  are  edicts  against  single  combats,  master." 

"Edicts,"  grumbled  the  ex-soldier,  eyeing  his  man  with 
profound  commiseration.  "Edicts  are  plenty  against  all  rec- 
reations of  the  rich  and  the  people.  If  there  were  no  edicts 
how  could  one  have  the  fun  of  breaking  them  ?  Come,  will 
you  bet  on  the  fight  ?"  He  examined  the  pair  who  were  tak- 
ing on  another's  measure  visually — the  Breton,  calm,  good- 
humored,  taunting,  and  the  Parisian  nervous,  agitated  and 
lashing  himself  into  fury. 

"  Both  brave,  but  one  as  flurried  as  a  tiger,  while  the  otb«* 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAMIS.  ^ 

is  cool  as  Polar  bear.     Which  will  you  lay  a  crown  upon  ?" 

"  Master,  master,  you  cannot  think  to  let  them  come  to 
blows.  You  ought  to  interfere.  You  should  exercise  your 
authority." 

"Exercise  my  sword,  yes,"  He  ran  to  shut  up  the  house 
so  that  the  watch  should  not  disturb  them  and  called  for  his 
rapier  when  this  care  was  taken.  While  it  was  brought  him, 
he  threw  off  his  white  apron. 

Do  you  imagine,  boy,  that  lam  going  to  stand  with  my  arms 
folded  while  the  gentlemen  have  it  out?" 

*'  You  don't  mean  to  say  that  you  will  fight,  too  ?'* 

" 'Sdeath  !  but  fight  I  will !" 

*  With  whom  ?  the  best  man  ?" 

"  With  the  worst,  one  here — with  you,  dolt  !'* 

"With  me  *'r  repeated  the  waiter,  horrified. 

We  will  be  the  seconds  to  these  gentlemen,  according  to 
the  code  of  honor.  You  shall  take  one  part,  and  I  the  other: 
«o — then,  a  fight  in  the  good  old  style  !" 

"But  I  do  not  carry  a  sword,  master  !" 

"  You  may  use  the  big  silvered  skewer  !' 

"  Oh,-Lord  !" 

''  Yes,  perhaps  it  is  longer  than  my  toadsticker  ;  but 
you  can  have  that  point  in  your  favor." 

In  the  meantime,  Joel  had  unsheathed  his  blade  ;  but  to 
»jake  a  final  appeal  for  reconciliation,  he  said  : 

"  Come,  let  us  sup  first :  plenty  of  time  to  cross  steel  after- 
wards." 

"  No,  no  !"  protested  Friquet,  "  straightway — Death  of 
rwy  life  !  To  it  ?"  and  with  his  uplifted  sword  he  menaced  the 
Breton,  who  had  no  more  than  enough  time  to  fall  into  the 
position  of  a  parddein  in  carte. 

The  exasperated  Parisian  rushed  on  with  such  impetuosity 
that  the  blades  were  engaged  up  to  the  hilt.  Happily  the 
Son  of  Porthos  had  as  much  coolness  with  the  naked  steel 
as  with  buttoned  foils  ;  he  disengaged  his  blade  from  such 
dose  quarters  and  took  a  step  backward. 

"  Soho  !"  sneered  the  fiery  little  man,  "the  Goliath  re- 
tieats." 

"I  am  not  retreating  .  I  am  merely  breaking  free  ;  and 
in  all  countries  where  sword  play  is  a  science,  to  free  thebladfr 
is  part  of  the  game  and  not  a  retreat." 

While  lecturing,  the  stranger  to  town  parried  the  thrust* 


86  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

and  lunges  of  the  Parisian,  though  quick,  hot  and  varied, 
without  making  any  return. 

"  Horns  of  the  fiend,  I  believe  you  are  playing  with 
me!"  snarled  the  latter. 

"I  am  quite  sure  of  it,  sir,"  replied  Joel,  placidly;  and 
launching  out  a  lunge,  he  said  at  the  same  time,  "  If  I  had 
leally  let  go,you  would  be  spitted  like  the  leg  of  mutton." 

In  truth  the  infuriated  little  hero  felt  the  long  sword 
furrow  his  side  but  so  lightly  that  he  might  have  thought 
it  was  but  the  point  of  a  roughened  foil. 

"  This  will  have  to  be  ended,"  he  exclaimed. 

"Just  what  I  say,"  observed  our  hero:  "  I  am  not  ask- 
ing for  any  thing  else,  for  I  am  hungry  to  the  very  tip  of 
my  toes." 

Making  a  feint  of  a  lower  carte,v/hich  the  opponent  par- 
ried with  a  circular  sweep,  he  entangled  the  Parisian's 
blade  and  with  a  whip-like  movement  of  violence,  sent  it 
to  the  other  end  of  the  room. 

"Kill  me,  kill  me  outright,  instead  of  disarming  me/' 
shrieked  the  mad  little  fellow,  foaming  at  the  mouth  with 
shame,  rage  and  humiliation. 

But  the  son  of  Porthos  peacefully  restored  his  weapon 
to  the  scabbard,  with  the  remark:  "  You  see,  were  I  to 
kill  you,  we  should  not  take  supper  together."  He  went 
and  picked  up  the  fallen  sword  and  with  a  bow  r°*urned 
it  to  him.  "I  hope  now,"  he  went  on  in  his  frank,  round 
voice,  that  you  will  not  draw  back  from  the  fpast  for 
which  you  so  valiantly  fought.  Remember,  '  none  but 
the  brave  deserve  the  fare.  " 

There  was  no  keeping  vexed  with  such  good  humor. 

'*  Halloa,  landlord,  set  the  board  out  for  two — three — 
all  who  like!  I  invite  you  all  to  join  me  and  this  hero." 

Friquet  was  for  an  instant  overborne  by  his  defeat,  he 
was  red  and  confused,  while  he  trembled.  But  won  over 
by  the  antagonist's  loftiness,  he  took  a  step  up  to  him, 
and  said  in  a  low  voice  full  of  lively  feeling: 

"  My  master,  I  was  wrong.  I  behaved  like  a  cur- 
mudgeon in  picking  this  quarrel  with  you,  instead  of 
merely  picking  that  bone.  It  is  my  confounded  dwar- 
fish stature  which  upsets  my  brain,  and  I  wish  to  the 
lord  that  I  could  grow  up  or  out  of  the  testy 
mood.  It  ill  becomes  the  Parisian,  that  is,  the 
most  civilized  being  on  the  earth,  and  before  you 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  *\ 

great  a  traveler  and  warrior  must  have  heard  in  his  pilgrim- 
age through  the  world.  It  preaches  the  necessity  of  char- 
ity to  your  neighbor." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  all  this  talk  ?" 

Our  hero  swung  his  hat  in  his  hand  and  in  the  most  en- 
gaging manner  continued : 

"It  means  that  I,  too,  have  come  from  afar,  in  quest  of  lodg- 
j«g  and  something  to  eat.  I  shall  not  be  sorry  to  share 
frith  you  the  delicacies  of  this  no  doubt  famous  establish- 
ment." 

It  was  the  turn  of  the  landlord  to  doff  his  cap  and  make 
his  bow  to  this  second  wearer  of  a  sword.  Besides,  each  pays 
his  scot/'  said  the  countryman.  "  Share  alike  and  pay  a- 
like — like  comrades.  Are  you  agreeable  ?" 

If  the  Little  Parisian  were  agreeable,  he  did  not  look  it. 
It  was  with  a  very  sour  look  that  he  snappishly  responded 
to  the  youth  who  overshadowed  him  : 

"Devil  take  it !  I  ordered  that  mutton  and  I  shall  keep 
it" 

"You  are  not  polite,"  said  Joel,  tranquilly.  "But  I  am 
too  dry  in  the  gullet  to  be  dainty — dry  as  an  old  nail  in  a  vine- 
stake." 

And  unceremoniously  reaching  his  arm  over  Friquet's 
head  and  past  the  landlord's  ear,  he  took  up  a  pewter  pot 
from  the  counter,  and  scarcely  stopping  to  test  what  it  was 
by  the  smell,  he  drained  nearly  a  quart  of  the  wine  at  a. 
draught. 

Meanwhile  the  little  Parisian's  eyes  flared  up  like  a  cat's  on 
whose  tail  one  had  stepped. 

"Not  polite  ?"  he  repeated  in  a  high  voice.  "Odsboddikins 
Have  you  an  idea  of  teaching  me  a  lesson  in  etiquette — you 
who  look  to  come  out  of  the  marshes  of  Brittany,  to  me,  who 
is  a  Parisian  born  ?  Let  me  tell  you  that  I  deal  stripes  and 
lashes  to  hulking  fellows  wh  >  have  threatened  to  put  me  in 
their  pocket" 

"Stay  !"  returned  the  Breton  impatiently,  "the  size  of  you 
and  me  is  not  in  debate  :  the  trouble  to  satisfy  is  in  our 
teeth,  which  seem  to  be  the  same  length.  If  they  do  not  set 
something  eatable  before  us,  nothing  will  be  left  but  our 
swords  and  daggers,  for  we  shall  have  eaten  one  another 
tlive — and  without  waiting  to  strip  off  the  rind.  Besides, "as 
he  compared  the  leg  of  mutton,  which  Bistoquet  had  brought 


M  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR. 

"Hold!"  ejaculated  he,  *'at  least,  I  know  one  of  the  thra« 
who  are  strangers  to  you." 

"Is  it  possible?" 

"It  is  Captain  d'Artagnan,  no  less!* 

"Captain,  eh?" 

"Captain  commanding  for  the  King,  his  Majesty's  owij 
life-guards,  the  two  companies  of  the  Red  and  the  Black 
Musketeers.  I  was  only  a  boy  when  I  was  wont  to  see  him, 
but  a  boy  does  not  forget  those  who  pull  his  ears  and  give 
him  crownpieces.  Faith,  he  promised  to  cut  my  ears  off 
once — and  he  would  have  done  it,  for  I  was  riding  a  stolen 
horse  of  a  friend  of  his — and  he  rewarded  me  with  a  kick  of 
which  I  cherish  the  memory.  What  a  fighter — you  should 
have  seen  him  the  day  they  arrested  Town-counsellor  Brous- 
eel — that  was  a  riot,  such  as  we  see  never  in  these  degener- 
ate days,"  rattled  on  Friquet,  rubbing  his  hands  with  a  war- 
rior's glee  which  was  shared  by  the  grinning  landlord. 
"Bricks  and  chimney-pots  flying  like  snowflakes,  the  citizens 
flying  to  arms,  and  M.  d'Artagnan  facing  two  thousand, 
roaring,  rampagious  men  as  if  he  were  a  stone  statue  out  of 
the  cathedral.  Ah,  he  was  one  of  them  !  the  paladins  that 
we  read  about.  Then  to  see  the  cowardly  mob  melt  away, 
like  the  snow  I  spoke  about,  when  he  spied  his  squadron 
coming  up.  'Present  arms — make  ready!' but,  'Sblood!  which 
was  his  pet  oath — before  he  could  say,  'Fire!'  the  crowd  had 
fled  on  all  sides  and  Broussel  was  lugged  away  to  the  Bas- 
tille in  double-quick  time.  Oh,  yes,  let  me  alone  for  know- 
ing M.  d'Artagnan,  the  bravest  of  the  brave,  but  likewise 
the  most  wily  of  the  wily — but  then,  he  was  the  typical  Gascon 
— the  master  of  the  world,  if  he  had  wanted  it." 

"Really!" 

"My  master  the  beadle  of  Notre  Dame  was  also  once  in 
the  private  service  of  a  friend  of  Captain  d'Artagnan's — 
stop  a  bit — this,  too,  may  have  been  one  of  the  three  you  men- 
tion— well,  my  master  Bazin,  after  he  had  been  tasting  the 
wine  which  we  supplied  from  oar  tavern  for  the  sacramental 
vessels,  would  let  his  tongue  wag.  Oh,  the  special  cohort  of 
M.  d'Artagnan  and  he  executed  the  grandest  feats  of  arms 
in  the  reign  before  my  time.  They  coped  with  the  famous 
Cardinal  Richelieu,  and  made  but  a  mouthful  of  Cardinal 
Mazarin,  the  Italian  sneak  !  If  the  gentleman  you  seek  was 
a  comrade  of  Captain  d'Artagnan,  then  he  is  worth  tne 
finding,  I  warrant.'' 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  89 

*What  has  become  of  Captain  d'Artagnan?"  inquired  Joel 
tv-ith  that  relief  which  one  feels  when  a  tangible  reality  begins 
to  appear  where  one  dreaded  a  myth  was  deluding  the  eye. 

Friquet  shook  his  head,  already  sad  at  having  to  disap- 
point his  new  friend. 

"That  is  the  point  where  I  am  at  fault;  for  I  have  been 
playing  the  rolling-stone,  when,  had  I  stuck  to  the  ecclesias- 
tical calling — or  the  taverner's,  I  should  have  been  a  beadle, 
bar  my  non-imposing  mien,  or  a  host  like  our  worthy  Boni- 
face at  my  elbow.  I  know  no  more  than  you  who  is  head  of 
the  church  in  town  or  of  the  royal  body  guard." 

"You  need  not  look  to  me  for  aid,"  remarked  the  wine- 
shop-keeper, "since  his  Majesty  oSended  his  good  city  by 
living  in  a  palace  outside  of  it,  I  am  no  longer  informed  on 
the  court  and  garrison  news.  Captain  d'Artagnan  may  be 
retired  from  old  age,  or  dead,  although  we  old  soldiers  have 
life  rivetted  to  our  bodies." 

"It  is  easy  to  make  inquiries,"  Friquet  suggested. 

"In  what  quarter,"  demanded  the  Breton  eagerly. 

"In  the  Musketeers'  quarters,  of  course.  They  are  still  in 
existence,  and  they  are  only  fit  to  supply  the  oven  of  Old 
Nick  if  they  do  not  cherish  the  memory  of  their  old  com- 
manders." 

"You  are  right,  my  friend.  The  next  thing  is  to  find 
where  the  Musketeers  are  stationed." 

"That  is  also  easy,"  said  the  landlord  :  "As  they  are  the 
royal  household  troops,  they  will  have  followed  the  King 
into  Flanders." 

"Right  again,"  said  Friquet,  "but  the  campaign  is  over  ;  I 
Iheard  that  his  Majesty  had  got  back  to  Lille,  and  so  that  is 
where  the  clue  must  be  sought  for." 

"Wait  a  minute,"  said  the  master  of  the  Blackamoor,  "you 
need  not  go  so  far,  for  all  the  Musketeers  would  not  have 
gone  there.  A  troop  will  have  been  kept  at  St.  Germain's 
to  guard  the  Queen.  This  I  am  sure  of,  as  I  met  the  Vis- 
count de  Bregy,  the  other  day,  one  of  my  customers,  who  is 
also  a  Musketeer — corporal  of  the  squadron  left,  as  I  say." 

"Do  you  think  he  would  know  anything  about  Captain 
d'Artagnan." 

"It  would  be  a  poor  joke  if  he  did  not,  for  he  must  have 
nerved  under  his  orders,  as  toe  has  been  in  the  corps  some 
dhirty  years " 


90  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

"Thirty  years,"  exclaimed  the  hasty  Parisian,  "and  not 
yet  shelved  ?  I  should  think  he  were  more  fit  to  walk  on  a 
crutch  that  carry  a  musket  !" 

"M.  Friqnet,"  returned  the  host,  smiling  paternally.  "  I 
have  just  witnessed  that  you  are  a  plucky  gentleman.  You 
will  become  a  redoubtable  master  of  fence  when  you  wear 
out  your  impatience,  and  fortify  your  theory.  Still,  though 
you  have  youth  on  your  side,  I  should  not  advise  you  to  fall 
out  with  M.  de  Bregy,  as  I  know  nobody,  unless  it  be  our 
neighbor  here  who  could  match  him  in  strength  of  wrist 
and  close  fighting.  Ah,  the  Musketeers  have  always  main- 
tained the  repute  of  having  the  best  swordsmen  in  their 
ranks.0 

"What,  another  Colossus  of  Rhodes,"  sneered  the  incor- 
rigible Parisian,  "I  should  like  to  test  this  military  Methuse- 
lah. In  any  case,  his  brilliant  fencing  has  not  very  rapidly 
advanced  him  in  his  company." 

"Now,  you  hit  the  peg.  He  ought  to  have  been  colonel, 
or  major-general,  but  he  is  overfond  of  the  winecup,  of 
whipping  out  his  blade  and  running  after  the  petticoats  ;  he 
will  drink,  and  dice  and  frequent  the  broad  road  that  lead- 
eth  to  perdition,  as  you,  monsieur,  who  have  been  in  the 
choir,  will  know  better  than  I.  Still,  he  is  a  perfect  gentle- 
man, borrows  money  with  a  lofty  air  as  if  he  conferred  the 
favor,  will  drink  the  hardest  heads  under  the  table,  and 
fight  while  there  is  a  stump  of  steel  in  the  swordhilt.  I  know 
that  he  has  been  out  in  the  field  of  honor  ten  times,  and  al- 
ways laid  his  antagonist  low." 

"Bravo  !  for  the  Musketeers,*'  said  Friquet,  grudgingly  : 
"  but  there  is  luck  in  odd  numbers — or  to  them,  and  the 
eleventh  or  thirteenth  may  lay  him  out." 

"I  shall  go  to  St.  Germain's  to-morrow,"  observed  Joel. 

"You  could  not  do  better,"  agreed  Friquet;  "and  mean- 
while, let  us  share  that  room  overhead,  which  can  be  made 
double-bedded,  I  suppose  ?  as  we  have  shared  the  mutton." 
He  rapped  on  the  board  with  his  goblet,  crying  out :  "An-, 
other  cup,  host !  Then,  to  rest,  all  of  us.  I  must  be  early 
at  the  minister's  to-morrow,  and  let  me  catch  any  of  the 
clerks  make  a  mock  of  me."  He  plumed  himself  triumph- 
antly and  added:  "  When  I  wear  the  royal  uniform  on  my 
back,  it  will  make  me  inches  taller  and  no  one  will  refuse  me 
the  respect  1  deserve." 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  91 

"  How  long  will  it  take  me  to  go  out  to  St.  Germain's  ?n 
inquired  the  stranger  to  town. 

"  A  couple  of  hours  at  the  most,  on  a  good  post-horse, 
which  you  may  hire,"  replied  the  tavern-keeper. 

"  That  will  suit  me,"  said  our  hero,  not  forgetting  Mdlle. 
du  Tremblay.  "  I  can  be  back  for  Vespers." 


CHAPTER  XI. 

ONE  CHANNEL   OF  INFORMATION  IS  CHOKED. 

IT  was  about  two  in  the  afternoon,  and  the  July  sun  was 
heating  white  .hot  the  sharp  pavingstones  which  have  always 
been  the  terror  of  foot  passengers  and  the  delight  of  farriers 
in  the  good  town  of  St.  Germain.  Before  the  front  gateway 
of  the  old  Castle,  paced  two  Musketeers,  with  the  arm  on 
their  shoulder  which  gave  their  regiment  its  name,  while  an 
other  pair,  off  duty,  were  sitting  on  the  edge  of  the  ditch, 
with  their  legs  swinging  in  the  hollow,  and  their  swords  dan- 
gling between  them.  Other  times,  other  names — we  have 
not  now  the  names  in  the  corps  of  Du  Verger,  De  Belliere, 
ect.,  but  Gace  and  Hericourt,  those  on  duty,  and  Champag* 
nacand  Escrivaux,  for  those  idling. 

In  the  Spanish  fashion,  the  Queen  Maria  Theresa  was  tak« 
ing  her  siesta  and  the  court  followed  her  example.  So  the 
sentinels  were  yawning  fit  to  dislocate  their  jaws,  and  their 
comrades  in  the  moat  were  gaping,  when  one  of  the  latter 
had  Just  the  strength  left  to  nudge  the  other  and  say: 

"Escrivaux,  look  over  yonder,  towards  the  Tennis-court — 
what  do  you  call  that  queer  figure?" 

"It  is  a  real,  live  Breton,  fresh  from  his  country,"  re- 
turned the  other,  glancing  in  the  direction  indicated.  "A 
strapping  fellow,  by  the  mark  !  But  he  must  be  infernally 
green  not  to  be  burnt  to  a  crisp  in  venturing  out  on  the  royal 
highway  in  a  heat  equal  to  roasting  an  egg,  twixt  my  cassock 
and  my  shirt.'* 

It  was  our  friend  Joel,  entering  the  town  after  leaving  the 
nag  which  had  brought  him  from  the  city,  at  the  Sully VElra 
tarern,  and  coming  along  by  the  castle  rampart. 

*'He's  coming  this  way,"  resumed  M.  dc  Charapagnac 


92  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  Ou, 

"Can  he  have  some  business  with  us  ?"  queried  M, 
d'Escrivaux;  "as  if  one  wanted  to  discuss  business  this 
weather  1" 

Coming  to  a  stop,  the  new-comer  bowed  to  the  Musketeers 
v«ith  his  usual  affability. 

"Gentlemen,"  he  began,  "may  I  ask  the  question  if  you 
do  not  belong  to  one  of  the  companies  of  the  Royal  Muske- 
teers ?" 

<4We  do,  as  the  uniform  should  tell  you." 

"We  are  all  at  your  service/'  added  Champagnac  politely, 
while  both  rose  and  returned  the  salute. 

"Your  obliging  greeting  emboldens  me  to  address  you  « 
question " 

"Do  not  hesitate,  monsieur," 

"Only  too  glad  to  have  it  in  our  power  to  oblige  you.0 

The  bowing  went  on  again,  till  Joel  continued  : 

"I  only  am  wanting  to  know  if  you  have  any  knowledge 
of  Captain  d'Artagnan " 

Meanwhile,  the  sentries  had  lounged  up  to  the  speakers, 
and  were  listening,  with  their  muskets  held  at  ease.  At  the 
magic  name,  a  chorus  of  admiration  broke  from  all  four. 

"  Our  Captain  d'Artagnan  !  the  pride  of  the  regiment 
whose  colors  we  have  the  honor  to  guard  i  nobody  has  ever 
led  the  Musketeers  into  more  glory,  and  with  more  energy 
and  fatherly  love  !  He  is  a  cavalier  whose  exploits  tired  the 
Muse  of  History  to  keep  the  run  of.  And  his  memory  is 
preserved  as  that  of  one  of  our  bravest  and  most  brilliant 
officers  !" 

The  Son  of  Porthos  was  affected  to  the  heart  by  this  eu  > 
logy. 

"I  thank  you,  gentlemen,  "  he  said.  "You  make  me  proud 
and  happy.,  for  the  officer  you  praise  was  my  father's  friend." 
'In  that  case,  we  compliment  you,"  said  M.  de  Gace, 
"for  the  captain  was  not  prodigal  of  his  friendship  and  no 
man  could  win  it  who  had  not  also  won  his  spurs  of  knight- 
hood on  the  field  of  battle." 

*'  One  word  farther/  said  the  inquirer  :  *  You  spoke  of 
the  captain's  memory,  as  though  he  had  ceased  to  exist." 

"Why,  he  has  been  out  of  the  army  list  these  twenty  years," 
responded  Hericourt.  4>  None  of  us  knew  him,  and  it  is  only 
by  the  legends  of  the  messroom  that  we  know  what  a  pre« 
cious  servitor  the  King  lost  in  him." 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  93 

Thereupon,  as  if  all  wished  to  prove  that  not  a  chapter  in 
the  record  of  the  soldier  was  unknown  to  them,  they  spoke 
one  after  another  : 

"Captain  d'Artagnan  was  killed  in  the  campaign  in  Fries- 
land — By  a  cannonball  which  crushed  in  his  breast — On  the 
very  day  when  he  took  by  storm  the  last  stronghold  which 
his  instructions  ordered  him  to  capture  from  the  Hollanders 
— And  at  the  very  instant,  too,  when  his  Majesty's  messen- 
ger handed  him  the  patent  and  truncheon  of  Marshal  of 
France." 

Our  seeker  hung  his  head. 

"Dead?"  he  muttered.  "I  should  have  expected  it,  and 
yet  this  certainly  makes  my  heart  ache.  Gentlemen,"  he 
said  aloud,  as  he  recovered  his  manlier  mood,  "since  you  let 
me  so  trespass  on  your  kindness,  permit  a  final  inquiry." 

"Speak  on.'* 

"Has  any  of  the  three  names  I  am  about  to  utter,  made 
a  previous  impression  on  your  ear?  Athos,  Porthos,  Ar- 
amis?" 

The  four  soldiers  seemed  to  reflect,  but  finally  they  re* 
plied  that  this  was  the  first  time  the  singular  names  had  beef* 
heard  by  them.  Joel  bowed  to  take  his  leave. 

"Then,  there  is  no  more  for  me  to  do  than  offer  you  the 
expression  of  my  gratitude  as  I  go." 

But  Escrivaux,  sympathizing  with  him  in  his  evident  dis- 
appoi^.ment,  retained  him. 

"Stay,  stay  !  Might  not  those  belong  to  the  Three  In- 
trepid Musketeers,  called  the  Inseparables  ?  With  M.  d'Ar- 
tagnan, who  was  a  gentleman-private  in  the  Queen's  Guards 
at  the  period,  they  held  the  Bastion  of  St.  Gervais  at  the 
jSeige  of  La  Rochelle  against  a  large  body  of  the  Calvinists  ? 
Gentlemen,  you  remember  the  story  of  the  dinner  napkin 
which  our  comrades  set  up  as  a  standard  on  the  walls  they 
defended  and  which  King  Louis  XIII.  ordered  to  be  em- 
broidered in  gold  with  the  royal  lily-flowers  ?" 

"Why,  of  course  we  do,**  replied  Champagnac.  "You 
have  hit  the  mark.  But  all  that  happened  «"  long  ago.  In 
the  preceding  reign——" 

"And,  mark,"  said  Gace,  smilinir  "'/ie  oldest  of  us  is  not 
over  thirty." 

"  There  is  only  one  in  the  company  who  could  enlighten 
you  on  this  score, "  pur<sn*H  rfericourt  "  and  he  is  our  cor- 


9<  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

poral  M.  de  Bregy,  who  is  not  always  in  a  talkative  moef 

"'Not  when  he  has  left  his  money  on  the  cardtable " 

"  Or  his  wits  in  a  pot  of  wine " 

"  Where  is  your  M.  de  Bregy  to  be  met  with  ?"    abruptly 

inquired  the  Breton,  bent  on  his  own  idea. 

"In  his  favorite  drinking-place  in  the  Vaches  Street " 

**Or  the  dicing- den  of  the  Poteau-Jure"  Street " 

"Unless  he  has  lingered  by  the  way  to  drub  some  varlet 

or  quarrel  with  a  citizen  for  having  too  pretty  a  daughter 

"Hold  !  talk  of  the  wolf  and  you  will  see  his  ears,"  said 
Escrivaux;  "here  he  comes  from  behind  the  wall  of  the  Royal 
Kennels." 

"You  are  right,  in  faith,"  added  Champagne;  "be  on  your 
guard,  comrades.  The  old  bear  has  cocked  his  hat  awry— 
a  token  that  he  is  more  cantankerous  than  usual.  Take  my 
advice,  and  do  not  accost  him  just  now,"  he  added  to  the 
country  squire. 

"Thanks,"  was  the  latter's  rejoinder,  as  he  laughed.  "This 
will  not  be  the  first  time  that  I  have  locked  horns  with  a 
stag  and  not  come  off  second-best." 

In  the  meantime  Corporal  Bregy  swaggered  up,  ringing  th« 
spurs  on  his  buff  leather  boots  and  shaking  the  red  feather 
of  his  hat  over  his  ear  so  that  it  seemed  likely  to  fall. 

This  "sore-head,"  as  in  military  slang  was  called  the  veter' 
ans  galled  by  the  steel  cap  of  service,  was  of  athletic  build. 
Under  his  scarlet  cassock,  on  which  blazed  a  sun  of  gold 
lace  with  spreading  beams,  his  broad  and  robust  shoulders 
were  prominent,  as  well  as  a  chest  in  full  proportion  to  his 
whole  frame.  Such  a  constitution  alone  could  defy  pro- 
longed excesses  in  debauchery  and  dissipation.  Everything  in 
him  reflected  that  brutal  and  quarrelsome  confidence  spring- 
ing from  the  consciousness  of  herculean  strength  and  cour- 
age above  proof.  From  this,  too,  arose  an  impudence  which 
tempted  the  most  pacific  person  on  whom  his  taunting  gaze 
fell,  to  take  him  by  the  throat  and  thrash  him  into 
decency. 

"  How  now!  my  pretty  pages,  is  it  thus  you  conduct  your- 
selves on  sentry-go  ?  since  when,  in  the  devil's  name,  have 
the  orders  been  for  soldiers  to  chat  with  civilians  when  under 
arms  ?  By  all  that  is  sacred  in  the  army,  I  do  not  know  any* 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAM  IS.  <y$ 

thing  but  my  soft  heart  that  holds  me  from  sending  you  all 
into  arrest  for  such  behavior."  So  he  thundered. 

"  Corporal,"  said  Champagnac.  "it  is  only  this  gentleman 
who  wants  to  speak  with  you." 

*'  A  gentleman,  to  speak  with  me  ?  what  gentleman  ?" 

And  holding  his  head  back,  he  scanned  the  Breton  so  dis- 
dainfully and  provocatorily  that  the  latter  felt  anger  flush 
up  into  his  face.  But  speedily  mastering  himself  in  view  of 
the  aim  he  sought,  he  began  : 

"  Corporal,  I  come  from  master  Bonlarrons " 

"  The  vendor  of  wine  and  cooked  meats  in  the  Pas-de- 
Mule  Street  ?  a  capital  host,  that,  or  the  infernal  fires  may 
roast  me  I  the  best  bub  to  drink  that  I  ever  lapped  !  I  fancy 
I  owe  him  some  ten  or  twelve  pistoles  for  it.  If  you  have 
come  to  dun  me,  I  can  tell  you  that  you  would  have  acted 
wiser  to  stay  in  his  cellar  and  drain  his  biggest  tun  ;  for  that 
rascal  Vilarceaux,  the  captain  of  the  keepers  of  the  Royal 
Spaniels,  has  raked  in  my  last  crown  of  pay  at  picquet." 

"I  do  not  know  anything  about  your  debts " 

"What  is  the  matter,  then,  by  the  horns  of  Belzebub?  It 
did  not  seem  to  me  that  you  were  tcngue-tied  as  I  came  up, 
for  you  were  chattering  away  like  a  flock  of  jays  to  my  sol- 
diers here." 

The  squire  made  an  effort  to  overcome  the  growing  irrita- 
tion which  this  brutal  welcome  caused  in  him,  spite  of  prud- 
ence. He  laid  succinctly  before  the  rough  soldier  what  he 
Wanted  of  him. 

"Athos,  Porthos,  and  Aramis?"  grumbled  the  corporal, 
plucking  at  his  moustache  in  ill  humor.  "Yes,  I  do  remen- 
ber  them  all.  Athos  was  a  great  nobleman,  a  couut  of  s«me 
place  which  has  escaped  me — who  took  the  shine  out  of  us 
With  his  sovereign  style  and  magnificent  manners — whicfc 
did  not  save  him  from  dying  like  an  old  dog,  in  his  domain 
down  in  Blaisois." 

"Then,  the  others — I  prithee,  the  others?" 

*'Aramis  and  Porthos  ?  Aramis  was  a  priest  who  had  no 
business  to  don  the  Musketeer's  uniform;  and  Porthos  was 
a  beefeater,  a  gorger  and  braggadocio " 

"Plague  on  it!"  blurted  out  the  young  man,  his  voice  trem- 
bling from  his  biting  his  lip  till  the  blood  ran,  *You  are  not 
lenient  to  your  old  companions-in-arms." 

"Ah,"  growled  the  veteran  with  a  hateful  rancor    **Thcy 


^6  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

were  the  ones  who  enjoyed  all  the  plums,  while  I,  doomed 
to  rust  in  a  low  position,  have  had  to  take  ray  belt  in  two 
buckle-holes  just  to  save  for  my  daily  whet  and  crust." 

"But  this  Ararnis,  and  Porthos?" 

"Oh,  Aramis  became  a  bishop,  and  Porthos,  a  baron— 
voyal  favors  that  they  hastened  to  requite  with  rebellion  and 
ingratitude." 

''What  are  you  saying  ?  " 

"That  the  Bishop  of  Vannes  and  Baron  du  Vallon  were 
mixed  up  with  Fouquet  in  the  great  conspiracy  which  led  to 
that  minister's  arrest.  They  were  two  leaders  who  defended 
Belle-Isle  against  the  King's  men,  and  they  slipped  away 
during  the  hard  knocks.  I  have  seen  the  sentence  which  con- 
demned the  brace  of  gallowsbirds  to  death  for  high  treason." 

The  squire  had  turned  whiter  than  his  shirt-collar  ;  from 
his  eyes  darted  a  flash  which  alarmed  the  spectators,  and 
from  his  quivering  lips  issued  this  indignant  protest : 

"Porthos,  a  traitor — impossible  !  You  are  a  liar !" 

At  this,  Bregy  fairly  roared.  His  forehead  veins  swelled 
like  cords  ;  his  broad  face  from  red  turned  to  violet,*and 
his  hand  grasped  his  swordhandle.  The  challenger  acted  in 
the  same  manner,  but  Champagnac  and  Escrivaux  flung  them- 
selves between. 

"Gentlemen,  think  what  you  are  about  !  drawing  swords 
before  a  royal  residence  ?" 

The  coporal  shoved  back  his  half  drawn  blade  into  its 
sheathe,  and  stepping  up  to  his  living  goad,  he  stared  at  him 
and  said  with  ill-contained  ire,  "Young  man,  you  have  spoken 
a  word  which  makes  you  equal  to  me  in  age." 

"I  know  what  it  entails,"  replied  Joel, "and  I  am  ready 
to  maintain  it." 

At  this  juncture,  three  o'clock  sounded  from  the  bell-tower. 
Four  Swiss  guards,  with  their  coporal,  came  to  relieve  the 
Musketeers  ;  when  the  change  was  made  and  the  words 
given,  the  Musketeer  Corporal  said  to  his  two  sen- 
tries :  "  Messieurs  d'Hericourt  and  Gace,  go  and  leave  your 
muskets  in  the  guardhouse.  Then,  join  us  in  the  Forest. 
This  stranger  and  I  am  going  to  take  a  stroll  for  our  health 
In  emphasizing  the  last  word,  he  showed  his  tolerably  good 
and  strong  teeth  in  a  tigerish  grin.  "  Messieurs  d'Escrivaus 
and  de  Cnampagnac  will  also  come  with  us.  Each  will  come 
alone  so  as  not  to  attract  attention.  All  are  to  meet  at  the 
Saint  Fiacre's  Oak  cross-roads." 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  97 

Side  by  side  the  duellists  strode  through  the  woods,  wel- 
come with  their  shade  on  that  blazing  day.  The  Musketeer 
took  off  his  hat  and  puffed  as  he  hummed  an  old  marching, 
song.  His  perspiration  streamed  on  his  forehead  and  filled 
his  wrinkles  and  scars  and  the  brushes  which  were  his  brows.. 
Joel  was  not. high-colored,  but  he  was  resolved.  It  is  asserted 
that  those  about  to  die  see  all  the  events  of  their  past  life  like 
'a  panorama.  Joel  saw  Old  Brittany  again,  the  Giant's  Grave, 
the  sword'which  he  wore,  thrust  up  out  of  the  mossy  ground, 
and  the  face  of  his  dying  mother.  But  this  time  it  wore  a 
hard,  stern  expression,  and  he  believed  she  was  whispering  .- 

"Defend  your  sire's  fame!" 

Behind  this  implacable  countenance,  appeared  another — 
Aurore  du  Tremblay's  not  less  imperiously  dooming  the  bully 
to  death. 

"Young  man,  we  have  arrived,"  said  Bregy,  wickedly  lay- 
ing stress  on  his  words  of  double  meaning,  "here  is  the  end 
of  your  journey." 

In  this  clearing,  covered  with  grass,  several  roads  came  to 
meet  and  form  a  star.  In  the  centre  rose  a  hoary  oak,  shrouded 
in  ivy  and  lichen,  and  harboring  in  one  of  its  decayed  knot- 
holes a  plaster  statue  of  Saint  Fiacre,  who  is  the  gardeners 
patron  saint. 

"We  can  begin  the  dance  whenever  you  like,"  returned 
the  Breton,  with  impatience. 

"Go  slow,  my  boy,  go  slow,  said  the  other  jocularly.  We 
must  wait  for  our  seconds,  as  I  do  not  want  it  said  that  I 
butcher  little  children,  like  the  ogre  in  the  street-hawkers* 
ballads." 

The  four  Musketeers  came  up,  each  by  a  different  path. 

'"Gentlemen,"  said  the  old  swordsman,  "two  of  you  will 
kindly  second  our  young  fighting-cock,  while  the  others 
stand  by  me-  It  is  understood  that  you  are  not  to  interfare 
whatever  takes  place,  save  as  the  seconds'  duty  regulates* 
and  testify  at  need  that  the  fight  was  properly  managed  and 
that  1  despatched  this  gentleman  according  to  the  rules." 

The  soldiers  silently  obeyed.  Escrivaux  and  Champag- 
nac  placed  themselves  by  the  Breton,  and  the  other  two  re- 
mained near  their  superior.  All  four  had  a  saddened  air 
and  eyed  our  hero  with  unequivocal  compassion,  as  he  un- 
sheathed his  sword.  It  must  be  said  that  the  sight  of  this 
heroic  weapon,  deftly  wieldad.  had.  however,  a  lively  effect. 


J8  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR. 

His  adversary  alternatively  opened  and  closed  his  right 
hand  to  test  the  play  of  the  muscles,  and  stamp  with  his 
foot. 

"I  am  waiting  for  you,  monsieur,"  said  Joel. 

The  swordsman  tossed  his  beaver  on  the  sod  and  took  out 
his  sword.      He  bent  his  knee  a  couple  of  times  in  rehears- 
ing a  lunge,  and  sneeringly  remarked  : 
,    "Do  you  not  want  to  make  your  last  speech  and  dying  con- 
fession to  these  gentlemen  ?" 

"No." 

'Then,  look  to  yourself." 

"I  mean  to." 

In  a  deep  silence,  the  two  rods  of  steel  clashed  and  at 
Once  an  oath  was  drawn  from  the  corporal's  vinous  lips  for 
he  had  perceived  that  his  task  was  not  so  easy  if  he  expected 
to  overcome  the  Breton  offhand.  The  latter  had  not  winced 
under  his  attack,  but  stood  like  a  statue  with  a  mechanical 
arm  playing  the  sword. 

"Come,  come,  the  boy  has  a  spice  of  the  fiend  in  him," 
muttered  the  old  soldier.  "I  did  intend  only  to  lay  him  up 
for  a  few  weeks.  But  now  I  shall  be  obliged  to  settle  him 
straight  off." 

Gnawing  his  moustache,  he  successively  tried  to  thrust  in 
carte  and  tierce,  overstepping  the  fighting-line,  and  dealing 
the  strokes  with  decisiveness  and  expertness  which  alarmed 
the  beholders,  while  he  was  astounded  at  their  being  met 
each  time  by  the  inflexible  iron,  for  he  believed  he  alone  held 
the  secret  of  these  lunges — a  tradition  of  the  regiment.  It 
was  a  sight  of  terrible  and  enchaining  interest,  with  moving 
incidents  which  the  lookers-on  watched  with  anxious  curios- 
ity. The  resistance  to  which  the  old  brawler  was  not  hab- 
ituated, surprised  and  irritated  him.  It  caused  him  gradually 
to  lose  his  science  and  coolnew  ;  giddiness  affected  his  brain, 
obscured  his  sight  and  burdened  his  arm.  He  felt  this  de- 
fect and  redoubled  his  impetuosity,  and  became  frightful, 
with  his  foaming  mouth  and  bloodshot  eyes  standing  out  of 
;he  sockets.  At  one  time,  he  shrank  back  on  his  guard,  and 
then  bounding  forward,  he  delivered  one  of  those  high 
Ihrusts  which  would  have  penetrated  the  gorget  of  a  foe  and 
transfixed  his  throat  ;  but  Joel  seemed  to  anticipate  this 
Itroke,  old  and  of  the  Italian  school  of  fence,  for  he  dropped 
K>  swiftly  that  the  sword  passed  straight  over  his  head.  At 


THK  DEATH  OF  ARAM1S.  99 

he  rose,  he  and  the  shotforward  and  baffled  swordsman  al- 
most came  in  contact.  He  might  with  a  shortened  arm 
have  stabbed  him  who  was  thus  at  his  mercy,  but  he  con- 
tented himself  with  giving  him  one  of  those  looks  which  an- 
nounce to  an  antagonist  that  he  must  expect  no  mercy  when 
the  time  for  execution  comes. 

By  a  reaction  brought  about  by  the  phases  of  the  combat, 
Bregy  now  doubted  himself  and  the  other  became  confident, 
and  this  could  be  read  on  his  face.  Bregy  stifled  another 
oath. 

To  avoid  a  downward  cut  upon  the  sword,  he  leaped 
nimbly  back  but  his  left  foot  slipped,  and  by  a  natural  move- 
ment Joel  delivered  a  thrust  as  straight  as  a  line  and  the 
sword  disappeared  in  the  Muskeeter's  breast.  He  remained 
on  his  feet  yet  an  instant,  and  tried  to  speak,  but  a  flow  of 
blood  choked  him.  Reeling,  he  let  go  his  sword  to  place  both 
hands  on  his  wound  ;  then,  like  a  tree  uprooted,  he  dropped 
on  the  sword. 

The  victor  leaned  up  against  a  tree,  with  perspiration 
beading  the  tip  of  each  hair.  He  dared  not  risk  a  movement. 
His  victory  seemed  a  dream.  He  stared,  affrighted,  at  his 
sword,  crimsoned  to  the  point,  which  he  had  also  let  drop,  and 
at  the  corporal,  lying  on  his  back  near  the  old  oak.  The 
distended  eye?  seemed  to  watch  him,  and  a  curse  or  some 
threat  seemed  hovering  on  his  lips.  Unwittingly  he  leaned 
towards  him,  "when  something  like  a  sigh  exhaled  and  to 
the  young  man  alone  these  words  in  the  faintest  of  whispers 
reached  the  ear: 

"The  thrust  of  Porthos  !" 

Joel  had  killed  the  insulter  of  his  father  with  a  secret 
thrust  known  to  but  few  in  the  regiment. 

The  seconds  exchanged  a  few  words  like  men  accustorr.ed 
to  such  deeds. 

"Nothing  ran  be  done;'* 

"Nothing,  unless  we  notify  the  forest-keepers,  who  will  all 
carry  the  corpse  into  St.  Germain's." 

Champagnac  and  Escrivaux  approached  the  conqueror  of 
their  unpleasant  officer. 

"  Monsieur,"  said  one,  "you  will  do  well  in  quitting  this 
place  as  soon  as  may  be,  as  the  royal  edicts  against  duelling 
are  strict  rj»d  the  constabulary  cannot  be  trifled  with." 

"Of  c<    fse  we  may  have  never  seen  you."    So  said  thfe 


too  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR. 

other.  "M.  de  Bregy  must  have  been  killed  by  some 
stranger,  which  is  what  we  shall  say  when  we  are  questioned. 
But  look  !  somebody  is  coming.  Haste  away  !  without  losing 
a  minute." 

Joel  stammered  a  few  words  in  the  way  of  thanks.Picking 
tin  the  avenging  sword  of  his  father,  he  mechanically  wiped 
it  \vith  a  handful  of  leaves,  and  replaced  it  in  the  scabbard. 
Then,  he  departed  with  the  step  of  a  drunken  man,  wildly 
and  without  an  aim. 

Bonlarron  and  Friquet  were  awaiting  him  for  supper  when 
he  found  his  way  to  them — he  hardly  knew  how. 

"By  the  big  bell  of  Ndtre  Dame,"  exclaimed  the  Parisian, 
when  the  recital  was  ended;  "I  should  have  acted  in  the 
same  way.  I  should  have  made  that  braggart  skip  into  the 
air  so  high  that  the  tower  of  St.  Jacques  of  the  Slaughter- 
house would  hare  been  seen  under  his  flying  carcase." 

As  the  fatal  duellist  flagged  in  appetite,  the  soldier-land- 
lord emitted  this  consolatory  maxim: 

"The  first  time  you  kill  a  man,  it  always  makes  a  slight  im- 
pression; but  it  is  only  the  first  corpse  that  counts.  It  i? 
nothing  when  you  get  used  to  it." 


HAPTER  XIL 

ANY  PORT  IN   A  STORM. 

ONthe  AnjouQuay,  stood  the  sumptuous  mansion  built  for 
Nicholas  Gruhin,  and  afterwards  the  property  ofLau- 
But  it  was  taken  at  the  present  season  for  his  Parisian 
residence  by  his  Eminence  the  Duke  of  Almada,  ambassador 
pi  his  Catholic  Majesty,  Charles  II.,  King  of  Spain  and  th« 
Indies. 

Aramis  was  seated  in  his  closet,  wrapped  in  a  wadded 
silk  sown,  before  a  desk  loaded  with  papers.  He  had 
just  finished  reading  the  following  communication; 

"  MY  LORD  ;  I  hasten  to  inform  your  lordship  that  the 
King  will  shortly  be  on  the  return  from  Lille  to  St.  Ger- 
main's, and  that  it  is  urgent  to  make  preparations  accordingly. 
The  marchioness  seems  indeed  more  ttut  «ver  assured  of  tii* 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  lot 

power  of  her  charms  and  the  success  of  her  ambitious  de- 
signs. I  hear  that  she  has  secretly  vaunted  of  a  prediction 
lately  made  to  her  which,  if  it  come  to  pass,  will  ruin  our 
hopes  and  projects  entirely.  A  fortune-teller  of  the  Palais 
Royal  ward  announced  to  her  that  the  Grand  Alcandre 
(Louis  XIV.)  would  shortly  be  free  to  wed  again  and  wouM, 
by  marrying  her,  raise  her  to  the  supreme  rank  in  the  reahn. 
Therefore,  it  is  necessary  to  produce  at  the  court  the  coun- 
terbane  to  this  noxious  influence —  the  person  who  will 
eclipse  her.  Deign,  your  Excellency,  to  take  measures  con- 
sequently and  consider  me  on  all  occasions  the  most  faith- 
ful, devoted  and  respectful  of  servants,  BOISLAURIER." 

Hot  as  was  the  evening,  a  high  fire  blazed  in  the  ample  fire- 
place in  carved  marble  before  which  the  desk  was  placed. 
Almada  crumpled  up  the  letter  into  a  ball,  and  flung  it  into 
the  blaze  where  it  was  consumed  in  an  instant.  Then,  set- 
tling back  in  the  armchair,  he  seemed  to  let  meditation  ab- 
sorb him.  In  a  short  time,  he  roused  himself  and  mur- 
mured : 

'  Upon  my  faith,  Boislaurier  is  right;  things  must  be 
hurried  on.  As  the  mountain  will  not  come  to  us,  we  shall 
go  to  the  mountain." 

He  struck  a  spring-bell  and  a  footman  appeared. 

''See  if  Esteban  has  returned  and  send  him  hither  at  once." 

In  a  few  minutes  the  lackey  inquired  for,  was  before  his 
master;  a  fine,  sharp  Spaniard;  he  bowed  to  the  old  lord. 

"Well,  what  tidings?"  demanded  the  latter. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  bring  your  Excellency  the  informa- 
tion which  I  was  charged  to  gather." 

"Very  well.  Speak — J  am  listening." 

"The  young  lady  whom  I  followed,  dwells  with  an  old  rel- 
ative whose  infirmities  keep  her  indoors,  in  the  Tournelles 
Street." 

"Yes,  proceed." 

"She  comes  forth  in  the  mornings  to  call  on  various  law- 
yers — proctors,  judges,  counsellors " 

"Go  on,  go  on." 

"In  the  evenings,  she  goes  to  worship  to  the  parish  church 
of  St.  Paul's,  which  is  her  habit." 

"How  have  you  learnt  that?" 

''I  heard  her  say  to  an  old  beggar-woman,  in  the  porch, 
M  she  dropped  a  coin  into  her  hand:  'You  may  expect  the 


X»  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR. 

•ame  daily  at  this  time  as  I  shall  come  here  regularly." 

After  a  pause  the  ambassador  asked: 

"Have  you  not  at  beck  some  bold  fellow  devoid  of  preju* 
dices,  who  will  do  any  kind  of  work  if  he  be  paid  amply?'* 
i  fle  added,  smiling  as  the  lackey  was  about  to  offer  himself; 
'I  am  not  mistrusting  your  delicacy;  but  private  motives  pre- 
vent me  confiding  the  mission  to  a  member  of  my  house' 
hold." 

"Your  Excellency  will  be  suited  to  a  charm,"  went  on  the 
Spaniard  eagerly  ;  "  I  have  met  the  very  fellow  for  this 
wcrk." 

"Ah,  how  nicely  things  fall  into  place  !  What  is  the  qual- 
ity of  this  rogue  for  all  work  ?" 

"He  styles  himself  for  the  nonce  Captain  Cordbuff ;  he  is 
an  old  friend,  for  we  served  the  King  together." 

"In  the  navy?" 

Esteban  shuddered,  for  he  and  the  highwayman  had  palled 
At  the  same  oar  as  gallcyslaves  for  the  King  of  Spain. 

"How  long  will  he  act?" 

"As  long  as  the  purse  of  his  employer  holds  out." 

"So  I  may  call  upon  him  to  do  me  some  slight  service?" 

"Your  Excellency  may  have  him  at  a  reduction  from  the 
market  price.  The  poor  scamp  arrives  out  of  the  country 
where  he  was  badly  treated,  to  judge  by  his  tattered  clothing. 
He  will  throw  into  the  bargain  three  more  scurvy  rascals 
equally  as  tattered,  whom  he  drags  at  the  heels — they  looking 
upon  him  as  a  hero.  All  four  were  the  victims  of  a  dishonest 
comrade." 

"Dishonesty  amongthieves?  what  is  this  world  of  iniquity 
coming  to?  but  a  truce  of  your  confidence.  I  am  not  going 
to  prunt  by  the  distress  of  villains  to  chaffer  with  their  con» 
science.  Bring  me  this  valorous  captain  in  a  brief  time." 

"To-morrow,  early,  he  will  await  the  command  of  your 
Excellency." 

"You  are  a  precious  Esteban.  Continue  to  show  the  same 
Zeal.  My  treasurer  will  often  want  to  see  you." 

On  dismissing  his  valet,  the  ambassador  wrote  some  lines 
in  a  kind  of  diary  carried  with  him,  in  the  cipher  which  he 
taught  to  Juanjugan.  and  anew  plunged  into  musing. 

A  smile  came  to  his  thin  lios  and  gradually  became  more 
jnd  more  bitter.  "Heigho!"  he  sighed,  in  fatigue.  "How 
d'Artagnan,  Athos  and  Porthos  would  look  with  contempt 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAMl*.  103 

OR  the  webs  I  am  spinning  now.  Those  valiant  champions  of 
the  wronged  and  oppressed  queens  and  lovers,  waged  manly 
warfare  and  measured  themselves  with  such  combatans  as 
Richelieu,  Cromwell  and  the  crafty  Mazarin:  they  foughi  for 
fair  ladies  and  reamless  kings,  under  the  flash  of  swords: 
they  rode  desperately;  they  crossed  the  seas  like  Perseus  and 
Jason  in  the  fables.0 

He  had  partly  risen  in  his  seat,  and  a  spark  of  fire  danced 
under  the  curtain  of  his  eye.  The  memory  of  dashing  deeds 
of  yore  galvanized  the  worn-out  frame  and  awakened  the 
Musketeers  in  the  diplomatist.  But  this  return  of  youth  lasted 
briefly.  The  expression  of  mocking  wisdom,  his  second  nat- 
ure, soon  replaced  the  fugitive  gleam  of  enthusiasm  on  the 
aged  countenance. 

With  a  dry  and  broken  laugh,  Aramis  continued  5 

"But  times  have  changed.  The  great  conspiracies  in  whid* 
a  plotter  risked  his  head  on  the  block  of  Chalais,  Cinq-Mar^ 
and  Montmorency,  have  given  place  to  bedchamber  intrigus^ 
where  the  disgrace  of  a  favoritt  or  the  ruin  of  a  courtier  is 
arranged  behind  my  lady's  ;aii  or  the  minister's  fire-screen, 
And  this  hand,  which  has  been  mighty  enough  to  shake  a 
throne,  is  reduced  to  push  couit  puppets  to  and  fro  as  though 
they  were  pawns  on  the  narrow  chessboard  in  the  alcove. 
Ah,  'tis  a  woman's  age— ana  I  must  act  like  a  woman,  spite- 
ful, relentless,  neglecting  no  paltry  action." 

Folding  his  slender,  white  hands  over  the  silk  dressing-gown 
and  gently  twiddling  the  thumbs  to  counteract  his  nervous* 
ness,  a  habit  of  his,  he  resumed,  while  his  .'eaiures  reflected 
a  satisfied  conscience. 

"All  things  considered,  is  it  Jiult  cf  jfti.«e  if  their  is  no 
longer  an  Olympus  to  scale  ?  I  am  more  able  to  climb  the 
molehill.  Anyway,  the  interests  I  guard  are  important. 
'Sdeath!  as  my  poor  d'Artagnan  usi  d  to  swear,  the  importance 
of  the  end  justifies  the  meanness  cf  the  methods." 

And  with  this  Jesuitical  plea,  by  hi.  oosition  over  the  Sons 
of  Loyala  most  appropriate  in  his  mov-.Sj  he  soon  after  re- 
tired to  a  sound  repose.  Not  long  after  he  had  breakfasted 
on  chocoltate  in  the  Spanish  mode,  he  hav.  n  interview  with 
our  old  acquaintance  Cordbuff. 

At  a  result,  the  valorous  Condor,  w;^h  a  couple  ot  nis  old 
troop,  but  no  longer  mounted,  might  have  been  seen  in  the 
dust,  prowling  in  the  neighborhood  of  St  Paul's  Churckr 


«K  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OX. 

Wittun,  a  dozen  old  women  were  listening  to  eveing  pray« 
i,r«5:  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  was  kneeling  in  the  Virgin  Chapel. 

When  she  approached  the  holy  water  font,  the  worshippers 
Ti.:'s;ht  have  noticed,  if  their  sight  had  been  keen  enough  to 
;  *erce  her  veil,  that  she  blushed.  Near  the  same  basin  stood 
a  young  gentleman,  our  friend  Joel,  who  dipped  his  fingers 
in  the  blessed  water  and  offered  it  to  the  lady.  Thus  their 
fcak^.s  touched.  Together,  they  descended  the  porch  steps. 

Tais  discovery  of  the  male  escort  to  the  lady  whom  they 
r/e;c!  set  upon,  did  not  meet  the  taste  of  Condor  and  his 
r.o.rvc  1es;  but  their  orders  were  strict  and  their  need  of  gain 
l&ose  r  3ent.  Reviving  their  courage,  they  glided  after  the 
paii"  »  "*<>  of  them  crossed  the  street  and  went  to  join  still  an- 
other., linking  under  a  doorway,  wrapped  in  a  dull  colored 
clou*:  I..IQ  covered  with  a  black  felt  hat.  The  third  con- 
tinued to  dog  the  happy  couple,  who  would  not  have  noticed 
if  a  regiment  were  at  their  heels. 

'  Well, "  inquired  the  watcher,  of  the  others  as  they  met. 

''  \  Ml.  <rou  are  quite  right,  captain,"  responded  one  of  the 
pie-..  **iv  Is  the  Breton  peasant  with  whom  we  had  the 
uuisha^  on  the  Saumur  road." 

"And  &e  girl  is  also  one  of  the  travelers  by  the  coach — 
the  pretty  i,-l.M 

*  U  will  be.  *  ruble  prize,  then,"  observed  Condor,  grinning. 
*  At  length  I  h  we  it  in  my  power  to  get  even  with  that  pert 
"•/future's  scorn  and  the  rustic's  brutality." 

"1  do  not  know  so  much  about  that,"  returned  one  of  the 
twain,  uyou  iia»e  acted  wisely  in  having  reinforcements; 
Che  p."5.1*/  bird  *-'*<>  beak  and  claws  to  defend  herself." 

"Ay-*'  addcU  tae  second,  "and  she  will  not  fail  to  pipt 
pretty  loudly.  * 

"What  does  that  matter?"  sneered  the  Colonel  of  the 
Royal  Marauders.  "Have  we  not  a  gag  to  prevent  her  mak- 
ing too  much  noise  ,  As  for  the  clown,  we  have  ten  good 
blades  who  wiU  put  »,im  out  of  a  state  to  annoy  the  brave 
subjects  of  his  Majesty." 

With  the  tone  cJ  a  general  arranging  his  army  in  line  ol 
battle  he  went  on  •  *'Where  is  your  comrade,  Pickpurse  JT 

"Following  thfc  'pair  of  cooers-and-wooers  ?" 

"Where  is  the  hackney  coach  ?** 

"Behind  the  church." 

"And  the  rest  of  our  fellow*  ?** 

vAlonz  with  tne  coaci* 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  wj 

"In  that  case,  to  work  !  Mind,  no  rumpus  and  rashness : 
that  is  the  special  order  of  the  noble  lord  who  employs  us. 
Take  your  time  and  do  the  trick  smoothly." 

For  three  days,  Aurore  had  been  coming  to  St.  Paul's  to 
vespers,  and  twice  Joel  had  had  the  pleasure  of  escorting 
her  to  her  home.  But  he  done  it  by  keeping  at  a  little  dis- 
tance. On  this  occasion,  he  made  so  bold  as  to  walk  by  her 
side.  As  she  eyed  him  with  a  kindly  smile,  he  muttered, 
more  confused  and  timid  than  when  first  they  met : 

"Are  we  going  to  part  so  soon?"  in  a  tone  of  entreaty.  "I  do 
ao  want  to  speak  with  you." 

"I  am  of  the  same  mind,  my  friend,"  she  answered  with- 
out hesitation,  and  holding  out  her  hand  to  him,  upon  which 
an  expression  of  delight  shone  on  his  face. 

They  turned  into  the  Petit-Muse  Street. 

"Give  me  your  arm,"  said  Aurore;  "I  am  frightened." 

"  Not  with  me  by  you,  I  hope,"  said  Joel. 

"  Oh"  she  responded  "  I  know  by  experience  that  I  may 
rely  on  your  strength  and  courage:  but  this  part  is  so  lonely, 
and  night  is  falling  so  fast." 

Indeed,  there  were  few  persons  out  ;  the  night  promised 
a  storm  and  all  the  'sky  was  lowering.  The  girl  leaned  on 
her  protector's  arm.  With  ecstasy  he  contemplated  her  de- 
licious loveliness  which  the  increasing  gloom  softened  and 
caused  to  appear  more  heavenly.  They  walked  but  slowly, 
keeping  close  to  each  other.  To  the  Breton's  lips  the  words 
pressed,  but  he  held  them  back  in  order  to  do  nothing  but 
listen  to  those  from  the  voice  which  thrilled  him  to  the  core 
with  intoxication. 

*'  Well,  have  you  commenced  your  investigation,"  she  in- 
quired. "  I  am  sure  you  have,  though,  as  you  are  a  man  of 
immediate  action..  Do  you  still  count  upon  a  success  for 
which  I  pray  every  day  ?" 

The  youth  felt  great  embarrassment.  Ought  he  to  in- 
form the  lady  of  what  had  happened  when  he  went  out  to 
St.  Germain  f  He  durst  not. 

Still,  as  falsehood  was  repugnant  to  his  frank  and  straight- 
forward nature,  he  answered  the  question  by  putting  an« 
other. 

"  And  your  steps,  mademoiselle,  do  they  bid  fair  to  turn 
•ut  happily  ?" 

"  Alack"  she  sighed,  with  a  shake  of  the  head,  "  1  am 


106  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR. 

not  an  adept  at  begging  and  praying  favors.  The  art  is  a  sealed 
letter  to  me  of  obtaining  general  support  by  reiterated  sup- 
plications, and  I  have  the  great  flaw  of  being  proud.  Ah,  it 
I  were  alone  at  stake,  and  not  the  welfare  of  these  children 
—I—" 

"  You  would  give  up  the  task  !" 

"  I  certainly  should,  and  leave  town  on  the  morrow." 

"  Leave  town  ?"  repeated  the  other,  with  a  shudder. 

"  What  else  can  you  expect  ?  its  tumult  gives  me  a  dizzi- 
ness." 

I  am  frightened  by  the  traps  which  I  suspect  to  be  set 
for  my  feet.  Horror  and  pity  are  inspired  in  me  by  the 
mingling  of  passions  and  lusts  which  clash  in  the  streets, 
where  the  tall  houses  hide  the  heavens.  Then,  again,  I  feel 
myself  so  lonesome,  here,  deprived  of  all  support,  and  de- 
fense, so  weak  in  a  lions'  pit  where  the  motto  is  of  Each  for 
Himself  !  and  where  one  must  fight  for  a  corner  in  the  sun- 
shine and  a  scrap  of  bread,  with  many  weakening  and  shame- 
ful compromises.  Oh,  how  much  better  I  should  prefer  to  go 
home  to  the  country  and  dwell  far,  very  far  from  the  town? 
My  country  is  your  own,  too,  where  the  wild  rose  and  the 
golden  furze  mingle  on  the  cliffs  and  the  boundless  strand  ! 
and  their  scent  blends  with  the  wholesome  breeze  from  the 
ocean." 

"  Could  you  resign  yourself  to  dwell  there  by  yourself  ?" 
questioned  the  lover,  with  a  tremulous  voice. 

*'  I  should  esteem  myself  happy  above  all  women  if  I  had 
beside  me  one  whom  my  heart  has  chosen." 

"  Oh,  yes,"  he  muttered,  "  you  mean  some  opulent  and 
puissant  nobleman  who  would  make  you  a  sovereign 
lady" 

*'  You  are  wrong,"  returned  Aurore,  softly,  and  shaking 
her  head.  "  I  am  poor,  and  I  have  confessed  that  I  am 
proud,  but  this  pride  prevents  me  accepting  anything  from 
the  man  who  weds  me  save  the  wedding-ring."  Her  voice 
became  haughtier,  and  she  added  :  "  But  as  a  daughter  of 
the  noble,  I  am  bound  not  to  marry  beneath  my  line." 

"Ah,  me!" 

She  pressed  his  arm  with  hers,  and  in  a  grave  and  pene- 
trative voice  demanded  : 

"Why  this  sigh  ?  I  am  patient  and  we  are  young.  Can 
we  not  await  in  confidence  until  heaven  shall  have  blessed 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  10: 

our  efforts,  or  that,  in  default  of  your  finding  out  your  sire's 
name,  you  make  one  for  yourself  ?" 

"Good  heavens,"  so  ejaculated  Joel,  "is  it  possible  thai 
you  have  divined  my  secret  ?" 

They  had  reached  the  Celestins  Wharf,  where  there  stood 
a  bench  by  a  tree.  The  girl  took  a  seat  upon  it,  saying: 

"Won't  you  sit  beside  me  ?" 

He  obeyed  and  she  pursued  :  "I  am  in  the  belief  that  you 
love  me." 

He  raised  his  eyes  and  met  hers  fixed  upon  him,  and  then 
hers  were  cast  down  from  his  being  so  ardent. 

''Yes,  1  like — I  love  you,"  continued  she,  "to  learn  which 
I  had  no  need  to  hear  the  tale  from  your  lips;  I  had  but  to 
listen  to  my  own  heart.'* 

Fired  up  into  a  fever,  our  hero  said  :  "I  do  not  well  know 
what  my  feelings  are,  but  this  is  sure — I  respect  no  being  in 
the  world  as  I  do  you,  and  I  should  die  were  you  to  be  the 
bride  of  another." 

In  the  brief  silence  following,  a  slight  stir  was  heard,  which 
may  have  been  the  approaching  wind:  the  storm  was  nearing 
them  and  the  darkness  augmented.  But  the  lovers  saw 
nothing  of  either  phase  ;  they  had  no  consciousness  of  the 
advanced  hour  or  of  the  thunder  growling  in  the  distance. 
Joel  had  grasped  the  small  hands  which  quivered  in  his  ten- 
der hold. 

"Aurore,"  he  kept  on  repeating,  "Aurore,  you  are  my 
loved  one  !  My  hope  and  all  I  long  for  in  the  time  to  come! 
You  are  my  life  entire!" 

A  heartrending  scream  interrupted  him,  for  the  girl  had 
seen  a  dark  form  detach  itself  from  the  lesser  shadow  of  the 
tree.  An  arm  was  raised  with  a  heavy  holster-pistol  held  in  the 
hand  so  that  the  butt  should  come  down  on  the  young  man's 
head.  He  fell,  stunned,  like  the  pole-axed  bull. 

As  if  this  fall  were  a  signal,  three  men  swiftly  darted  out 
from  the  same  covert,  and  rushed  upon  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay. 
At  the  same  time,  a  coach,  drawn  by  two  strong  horses, 
came  out  of  one  of  the  alleys  ending  on  the  bankside.  The 
three  ruffians  hurried  her  away  towards  it. 

She  resisted,  and  shrieked: 

"Help,  help!  this  way!" 

This  appeal  of  distress  worked  a  miracle.  Joel  sprang 
to  his  feet,  like  the  bull  does,  sometimes,  when  the  axe  has 


io8  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR. 

blunted  the  senses,  not  fatally  paralysed  them.  The  thidj 
felt  of  his  shaggy  Breton  hat  had  broken  the  force  of  the 
blow.  By  the  pale  gleam  of  a  stray  lamp  he  had  a  peep 
at  the  ravishers,  and  he  bounded  upon  them,  with  his  sword 
in  his  grip.  On  seeing  him  swoop,  like  the  charge  of  a  cava- 
lier, one  of  the  three  ruffians  left  his  comrades  and  also 
bared  the  sword. 

"No  passage  this  way,"  said  he. 

"The  Colonel  of  the  Royal  Marauders  !"  exclaimed  Joel. 

"I  am  your  man,"  replied  Cordbuff>  darting  the  steel  point 
at  his  face  :  "  I  am  going  to  mark  you  this  time  again  where 
ray  pistol  ball  left  the  trace." 

This  was  only  a  fencer's  trick;  for,  instead  of  the  blade  ap 
proaching  his  eyes,  Joel  had  to  parry  a  lunge  which  might 
have  cut  him  in  halves. 

"Ah,  food  for  the  gallows  that  you  are,"  growled  the  Bre- 
ton, "You  are  not  worthy  being  slain  by  a  noble  sword." 
And,  reversing  the  weapon,  he  used  it  as  as  a  club  and 
with  the  weighty  pommel  nearly  split  the  bandit's  skull, 
and  he  rolled  in  the  mud.  In  one  bound  the  victor  had 
cleared  him,  and  in  two  more  reached  his  accomplices.  With . 
a  cut,  he  left  the  Plucker  howling,  and  with  a  thrust,  he  sent 
Pillager  into  a  doorway  to  try  to  patch  up  a  deep  hole  : 
Aurore  had  no  vile  hand  on  her  now.  She  clung  to  his 
neck. 

"Oh,  you  have  saved  me,"  she  said.  "Nay,  God  help  us!" 
she  almost  immediately  cried,  "We  are  lost." 

At  this  time,  indeed,  a  dozen  armed  bravoes,  what  were 
called  "the  Ferocities,"  disbanded  soldiers  who  led  a  vagrant 
life,  seemed  to  issue  from  the  bowels  of  the  coach,  much  as 
troops  came  from  the  wooden  horse  within  ancient  Troy. 
They  must  have  their  march  regulated  in  advance,  for  they 
headed  directly  for  the  young  spoilsport. 

"Curs,"  said  he,  "well  for  you  that  I  am  not  alone!" 

Instead  of  rushing  headlong  into  their  midst,  he  took  up 
the  gin  as  though  she  were  a  feather,  and  rapidly  turning,  he 
began  a  retreat.  The  whole  band  started  on  the  pursuit. 
Fortunately  the  first  blast  of  the  coming  storm  lifted  the  dust 
into  a  cloud  and  shrouded  them  in  its  blinding  whirls.  This 
for  the  instant  checked  their  speed,  and  that  space  sufficed 
to  give  the  fugitive  a  reasonable  advance. 

Large  drops  of  rain  began  to  fall 


SHE  DEATH  OF  ARAMIS.  K* 

'an  like  a  deer.  Thinking  that  to  save  his  dear  one, 
he  should  not  shrink  from  proceedings  which  the  emergency 
would  win  pardon  for,  he  took  the  girl  upon  his  left  shouldei 
and  held  her  from  falling  with  the  arm  that  side;  she  did  not 
Stir.  His  right  arm  was  free  for  his  sword.  The  priceless 
burden  did  not  slacken  his  furious  stride;  if  anything,  it 
spurred  him  on  in  its  giddy  swiftness.  They  who  followed 
hot-foot  were  inveterate.  He  heard  them  breathlessly  hast- 
ening) with  the  clash  of  weapons  and  formidable  oaths.  But 
our  champion  was  fortunately  of  the  build  to  accomplish 
feats  of  this  description.  He  was  nimble,  spite  of  his  some- 
what burly  frame.  It  was  not  for  a  poor  result  that  he  had 
trained  his  muscles  in  hunting  and  fowling  on  the  plains  at 
Belle-Isle,  and  in  running  over  the  sand  even  in  the  tempest- 
uous nights  under  the  thunderpeals. 

The  present  storm  was  at  its  height.  The  ground  rang 
under  the  rattling  hail.  On  every  hand  echoes  hurried  back 
the  roar  of  thunder.  But  the  Breton  had  seen  far  worse  on 
his  native  coasts. 

In  the  Equinoctial  gales  the  ocean-rollers  come  in  upon 
them  with  the  howls  of  Titans  trying  to  scale  the  cliffs.  He 
strode  onward,  undismayed,  with  a  regular  pulse  and  an 
even  respiration. 

But  not  so  with  the  rufflers  :  broken  by  drink  and  carous- 
als, they  floundered  and  stumbled  on  the  miry  soil :  they 
choked  for  breath;  at  every  instant,  one  stopped  short.  Joel 
was  bareheaded  at  he  fled,  his  long  hair  streaming  out  on 
the  wind,  wet  with  the  rain  and  his  perspiration  He  crossed 
one  bridge — then,  another.  He  threaded  one,  two,  three 
streets  and  with  a  final  effort,  reached  the  end  of  the  outer 
ward  beyond  the  old  City  limits.  Here  he  paused  to  rest 
on  a  corner-post,  catch  his  breath  and  listen. 

The  sound  of  the  pursuers  rose  no  more.  He  uttered  a 
shout  of  triumph  : 

"Thank  heaven,  we  have  thrown  the  pack  off.  Madem- 
oiselle, with  the  help  of  heaven,  I  believe  we  have  noth- 
ing more  to  fear." 

Aurore  made  no  reply  ;  she  remained  without  any  move- 
ment. 

"Mercy  on  us,  is  she  dead  ?"  gasped  the  Breton. 

With  anguish  he  touched  her  pulse,  and  he  found  that  it 
still  beat. 


HO  TfJE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OK. 

"It  is  only  a  faint,"  he  sighed  in  relief.  "The  same  sort 
of  thing  as  she  experienced  on  theSaumur  highway.  But," 
as  he  sustained  her  on  his  knee,  ''she  must  be  attended  to. 
Or,  this  drenching  rain  and  killing  hail  will  be  the  death  of 
her.  What  a  place- -not  a  soul  about  !  All  the  doors  and 
windows  closed,  no  lights,  and  the  walls  so  pitiless  !  I  do 
not  even  know  where  I  am,"  he  added,  in  despair,  while  his 
eyes  questioned  the  shadows  that  thickened  around. 

Suddenly  a  flash  of  lightning  glared:  out  of  the  dark 
loomed  the  house  before  which  he  had  paused,  and  the  brave 
youth  uttered  an  outcry  of  joy. 

He  recognized  the  building  as  the  Grey  House.  Only  a 
few  days  previously,  he  had  escorted  home  the  three  ladies 
who  had  asked  for  his  arm,  on  the  Pont  Neuf.  Filling  him 
with  light  and  cheer,  came  the  remembrance  of  the  sentence 
which  one  of  the  three  had  pronounced  as  the  most  grateful 
for  his  service  : 

"If  ever  you  have  need  of  my  aid,  do  not  shrink  from 
knocking  at  this  door,  and  asking  for  Franchise  d'Aubigny, 
the  Widow  of  the  Poet  Scarron." 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

QUEEN-LIKE. 

THE  great  anxiety  of  the  Widow  Scarron  was  for  the 
royal  children  whose  early  training  was  entrusted  to  her.  She 
feared  that  the  storm  would  rouse  them.  At  every  thunder- 
peal which  shook  the  casements,  she  glanced  towards  their 
cribs  with  uneasy  affection.  But  the  three  children  did  no* 
stir  ;  innocence  protected  them  in  the  battle  of  the  elements. 
So  the  lady  resumed  her  reading.  At  times,  interrupting  her- 
self, she  put  down  the  book  and  the  pencil  with  which  sha 
was  making  notes,  to  muse,  leaning  back  in  her  easy  chair, 
with  her  gaze  on  vacancy,  and  her  serious  lips  fluttering  : 
"  Queen — that  woman  repeated  that  I  was  to  be  a  queen." 
Still  a  smile  of  incredulity  curled  her  mouth,  although  a 
ray  of  hope  lighted  her  eyes.  She  shook  her  head  as  though 
to  dispossess  it  of  the  haunting  thought.  In  the  midst  of 
one  of  these  tormenting  reveries,  the  r-yal  governess 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  1 1 1 

abruptly  started,  for  a  heavy  hand  hammered  with  the  knocker 
on  her  door. 

"A  call  at  this  hour — what  can  this  mean  ?" 

A  few  minutes  having  passed,  a  servant  came  in. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  Honorin  ?"  questioned  the  mis- 
tress. 

"Madame,  it  is  a  young  gentleman  who  craves  speech  of 
you." 

"A  young  gentleman  ?" 

"Whom  I  remember  as  the  one  who  guarded  you  and  the 
marchioness  hither,  and  whom  her  ladyship  ordered  the  car- 
riage out  to  take  him  home." 

A  passing  flame  glowed  on  the  lady's  face. 

"  Oh,  that  brave  fellow " 

"  He  is  not  alone,  but  has  with  him  a  young  lady — very 
pretty,  upon  my  word,  and  seeming  in  a  swoon,  for  he  car- 
ried her  in  his  arms." 

"  This  is  most  strange,"  said  the  governess,  rising.  "  How- 
ever, conduct  them  into  my  oratory,  where  I  will  join  them 
presently." 

When  she  entered  the  pious  room,  of  which  the  chief  sec- 
ular ornament  was  a  bookcase,  containing  her  husband's 
works,  Joel,  who  had  been  awaiting  her  in  faltering  and  agi- 
tation, took  a  step  towards  her  with  a  supplicatory  gesture 
and  said,  as  he  pointed  to  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay,  whom  he 
had  placed  upon  a  sofa. 

"  Oh,  for  pity's  sake,  lady,  help  and  succor  her,  and  I  will 
repay  you." 

On  beholding  the  dead-seeming  girl,  with  the  treasure  of 
her  hair  flowing  over  her  shoulders  and  streaming  with  wet, 
the  governess  could  not  restrain  a  low  scream  of  astonish- 
ment. 

"  Quick,  call  Nicole  and  Suzette,"  she  said,  turning  to 
the  footman,  who  had  followed  her.  "  Let  the  bed  in  the 
Blue  Room  be  warmed.  And  bring  me  my  traveling  medi- 
cine-chest." 

"  I  must  explain  to  you,  lady,"  began  the  Breton,  again 
advancing. 

"  Another  time,"  she  interposed.  "  We  have  no  time  now, 
when  we  must  revive  her  without  delay." 

Her  two  chambermaids  having  run  in,  she  proceeded  : 

"  Take  this  lady  into  the  Blue  Room,  where  you  will  ra« 


112  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

move  those  wet  garments  and  put  her  to  bed.  I  will  set 
among  my  remedies  which  will  be  most  fit  to  bring  her  to  life 
anew.  You,  stay  here,  sir,"  she  went  on  to  the  deliverer 
"  I  shall  return  as  soon  as  the  patient  will  no  longer  need  my 
presence.  Then  you  can  acquaint  me  with  the  information 
of  whom  I  have  the  happiness  to  befriend  and  by  what  con- 
course of  circumstances." 

A  half-hour  clasped,  which  seemed  half-a-century  to  the 
waiting  heart  But  at  last  the  mistress  of  the  Grey  House 
appeared. 

"Be  of  good  cheer,"  she  said  to  this  mute  challenge.  Mdlle. 
du  Tremblay — for  her  name  came  out  in  the  babble  of  fever 
— is  asleep.  I  have  sent  her  into  it  by  a  calming  potion. 
But  she  must  have  been  overcome  by  great  terror  and  a 
piercing  emotion " 

"So  they  were  great,  indeed." 

Our  hero  rapidly  placed  under  the  governess's  eyes  the 
scenes  which  we  have  described.  When  he  arrived  at  the 
sequel  of  his  mad  race  through  the  storm  and  in  the  dark 
streets,  she  declared: 

"Verily,  here  is  an  adventure  which  commenced  by  a  pas- 
toral to  end  by  a  tragedy.  I  now  comprehend  the  poor  girl's 
trouble  from  which  I  have  sought  to  spare  her  by  adminis- 
tering the  soothing  draft.  Have  no  fear:  she  will  be  calm 
on  awakening,  in  a  safe  place  and  with  her  defender  by  her. 
If  it  should  not  be  so,  I  will  not  hesitate  to  have  recourse  to 
medical  science  and  call  in  Fagon." 

"  Fagon  ?  oh,  a  doctor  ?" 

"  A  physician — the  new  royal  physician." 

"Oh,  then  he  will  save  her  !  For  indeed,  lady,  if  he  should 
fail,  I  should  no  longer  have  any  heart  to  live,  and  would 
have  only  one  thing  farther  to  crave  of  you  :  point  me  out 
the  nearest  road  to  the  river——" 

The  royal  governess  shook  her  finger  at  him  in  affectionate 
remonstrance. 

*'  I  repeat  to  you  that  the  young  lady  is  not  in  danger  of 
death — at  least,  such  is  my  belief:  what  she  feels  is  the  con- 
sequence of  her  high-strung  character,  excessively  nervous, 
it  strikes  me." 

"You  are  right  in  that  matter,"  said  the  Breton,  "for  I 
have  seen  her  before  similarly  indisposed." 

"And  then,  the  upset  ot  the  mina  yielded,  I  suppose,  to 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAM  IS.  113 

the  repose  of  the  body.  So  will  it  be  to-day.  Sleep  is  the 
sovereign  remedy  for  these  accidents." 

"Heaven  hear  you,  who  bring  to  me  hope  and  to  her 
health." 

He  started  to  take  her  hand,  but  she  shrank  back  from 
this  manifestation  of  gratitude.  As  the  squire  stared  at  her 
in  surprise,  she  resumed,  to  shift  the  topic  of  conversation 
and  give  herself  a  countenance  : 

"At  present,  M.  Joel,  meseems  it  is  time  to  think  about 
yourself." 

"You  say  Joel  ?"  exclaimed  the  Breton  with  pleasure. 
"Then,  you  know  my  name  ?" 

"Did  you  not  confide  it  to  one  of  my  companions  ?" 

"And  you  did  not  forget  it  !" 

"No  more  than  your  generous  assistance." 

**Pooh,  a  trifle  !  It  is  I  who  ought  co  pour  out  uninter- 
rupted thanks  to  you  this  night.  Still,  as  you  do  me  the  favor 
to  interest  yourself  in  me " 

"I  wish  to  point  out  that,  as  you  appear  soaked  and 
muddied " 

"  It  is  likely.  It  is  all  on  account  of  the  deluge — and  I  did 
not  notice  it." 

"You  cannot  remain  in  such  a  state " 

"For  fear  of  spoiling  your  carpets  ?  that  is  true.  I  am  as 
much  out  of  place  here  as  though  I  were  a  river " 

"No,  no,"  she  protested,  "I  am  not  talking  of  carpets,  but 
of  yourself  who  need  dry  clothes  and  warmth." 

"Tush,  a  turn  before  the  fire  and  a  glass  of  wine  to  warm 
me  through  and  through,  and  I  ask  no  more." 

"How  inhospitable  of  me,"  said  the  royal  governess,  smil- 
ing "Be  good  enough  to  accompany  me.  We  can  talk  a* 
well  over  the  wine  you  reminded  me  to  offer." 

Joel  was  soon  seated  in  the  dining-room,  between  the 
fireplace  where  fresh  logs  were  blazing  and  the  table,  which 
Honorin  had  abundantly  loaded:  but  the  satisfaction  of  his 
hunger  did  not  dispel  the  cloud  darkening  his  brow,  usually 
so  carefree  and  smiling.  While  he  was  feasting,  the  host- 
ess had  spoken  with  her  cold,  sane,  pitiless  reason. 

"So,  you  are  in  love  with  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  ?you  really 
love  her,  in  full  sincerity,  in  your  inner  self  ?  it  is  neither* 
surprise  of  the  senses  nor  a  freak  of  youth  ?  You  love 
her  so  dearly  that  you  would  sacrifice  your  fortune  to  her  if 
the  proposal  arose  ?" 


814  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

"  I  would  not  only  sacrifice  my  earthly  possessions  but  mj 
lot  in  paradise." 

"  Breton  talk  of  bartering  his  salvation,"  she  said  mirthfully. 

"  Good  Lord,  this  is  getting  serious.  Does  Mdlle.  du 
Tremblay  return  the  sentiment  ?" 

*'  Sue  has  given  me  the  great  joy  of  authorizing  me  to  be« 
lieve  so." 

A  slight  cloud  if  vexation  shaded  the  questioner's 
brow. 

"On  my  honor,  this  opens  like  a  love-romance,  "she  said. 
'But  before  the  finis  be  reached,  what  disappointments, 
crosses  and  proofs  !  In  the  first  place,  you  have  a  rival." 

"  A  rival  ?" 

"To  whom  do  you  attribute  the  attempt  at  abduction 
from  which  the  fair  Aurore  escaped  only  by  your  interven- 
tion ?  I  vow  that  there  is  a  thwarted  swain  in  the  background 
— some  dangerous  personage,  no  doubt,  who  does  not  recoil 
from  the  most  expeditious  practices — "  She  spoke  with  more 
emphisis,  and  looked  hard  at  him  ;  "For  the  first  time,  the 
method  failed  :  but  what  shows  that  they  may  not  succeed 
on  the  next  essay  ?" 

Our  hero  dropped  upon  his  plate  the  breastbone  of  the  cold 
fowl — the  rest  of  the  succulent  bird  had  already  gone  the 
way  of  all  (chicken)  flesh. 

"What,  do  you  reckon  that  these  scoundrels  are  in  hire  of 
someone  loftier  ?" 

"Come,"  she  counterqueried,  with  some  bitterness,  "do 
you  yourself  think  tnat  one  will  easily  renounce  the  desire 
to  secure  a  girl  so  accomplished  as  your  idol  ?" 

"Out  upon  him  !"  growled  the  youth,  lowering  his  head 
like  the  bull  about  to  charge  ;  "I  must  kill  this  man." 

"Do  you  know  him  ?" 

"I  shall  seek  until  I  find  him." 

"A  very  problematical  result.  Has  he  not  as  much  reason 
to  keep^?r<&  as  you  to  discover  him  ?  May  he  not  have  at 
call  means  most  plentiful  to  elude  you  ?  Besides,  what  would 
you  re  ic'i?  He  is  doubtless  a  rich  and  powerful  man,  who 
has  an  army  of  cut  throats  at  his  back,  and  you  stand  alone, 
except  your  sword." 

This  logic  choked  Joel,  who  drank  a  cup  of  Burgundy  to 
clear  his  throat. 

**a  ihe  meanwhile,"  proceeded  the  lady,  dwelling  on  her 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAM  IS.  tfj 

words  as  if  she  wanted  to  convince  her  auditor  of  the  des« 
perate  nature  of  the  situation  "Mddle.  du  Tremblay  is  no 
longer  in  safety  in  her  lodging  in  Tournelles  Street,  do  you 
think?  For  my  part,  I  do^not  suppose  so.  The  dwelling  must 
be  known  to  the  unknown  ravisher,  who  will  multiply  his  plots 
around  that  point,  till,  sooner  or  later,  the  prey  falls  into 
them.  For  you  will  not  always  be  at  hand,  like  a  guard 
of  honor,  and  the  bedridden  relative  who  gives  her  shelter 
does  not  appear  to  me  able  greatly  to  help  her." 

"But,"  remonstrated  the  squire,  "above  the  rich  and  mighty, 
there  is  the  law  which  protects  the  weak  and  oppressed." 

Widow  Scarron  smiled  sceptically. 

"My  young  master,"  said  she  with  ironical  compassion, 
"it  is  plain  that  you  have  recently  arrived  from  the  rural  dis- 
tricts, for  the  law  here  is  what  the  Lieutenant  of  Police 
Lareyine  makes  it.  He  is  said  to  be  honest  ;  but  is  it  likely 
he  would  take  your  side,  and  your  Aurore's,  two  youths 
from  the  provinces,  without  credit  or  influence — against  a  ri- 
ral  of  your  antagonist's  rank?  From  the  highhanded  man- 
ner in  which  he  acts,  I  may  presume  that  he  is  a  great  no- 
ble, assured  he  may  brave  justice,  or  a  rich  one  able  to  bribe 
it." 

Joel  rose  in  sorrow. 

"Woe  is  me  1"  he  sighed.  "You  see  that  I  must  leap  with 
her  over  the  nearest  bridge " 

The  heartrending  outburst  was  so  deep  that  the  hearer  wa» 
thrilled  to  her  inmost  fibre. 

"How  he  loves  her  !"  she  thought.  "He  will  kill  her  sooner 
than  another  shall  boast  of  the  conquest,  and  then  slay  the 
villain,  however  high.  In  all  ways,  death  impends.  But  he 
must  not  be  lost — so  young  a  man,  who,  like  myself,  be- 
longs to  the  future.  Squire  Joel,"  she  called  out  as  he  stag* 
gered  towards  the  door,  "return  and  retake  your  seat." 

As  his  only  reply  was  a  mad  shake  of  the  fist,  she  ran  to 
him  at  the  door,  and  leading  him  back,  forced  him  to  take 
his  seat. 

"You  are  but  a  boy  to  throw  away  lives  like  coin.  If  I 
were  your  friend,  we  might  hatch  up  some  meos  together 
to  extricate  you  from  this  quandary.  There  must  be  a  way 
when  there  is  a  will.  So  there  is  ! — do  you  recall  the^lady 
whom  you  served  as  cavalier— one  of  my  companions  ?' 

marchioness  ?"  mechanically  queried  the   Breton* 


Il6  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

"  Yes,  the  Marchioness  de  Montespan,"  and  she  studied  <M 
the  young  man's  face  the  impression  made  by  the  revelation, 
or  she  sought  for  it,  for  there  was  none. 

Nothing  was  there  but  his  personal  distress. 

"  Does  the  title  convey  no  information  to  you?" 

"  By  rny  faith,  not  a  jot — is  there  anything  particular  abou* 
it  ?" 

"  It  is  not  possible  that  you  are  ignorant  who  the  mar- 
chioness is " 

"  I  saw  that  she  was  a  very  bewitching  and  obliging  per- 
son." 

"Is  that  all?" 

"  The  whole  story." 

"  Really,  do  you  mean  to  say  that  you  do  nqt  know  her  po- 
sition in  the  court  ?" 

"  Oh,  she  holds  a  position  at  court,  does  she  ?  One  of  the 
Queen's  ladies,  I  venture  to  guess  ?" 

The  hearer,  who  laughed  very  seldom  when  she  became 
Madame  de  Maintehon,  burst  into  a  peal  if  hearty  laugh- 
ter. 

"  You  will  be  my  death,  the  Lord  forgive  you  I"  she  ex- 
claimed, "  I  believe  you  make  witticisms  as  Moliere's  M. 
Jourdain  composed  prose,  without  trying  to  do  it.  Come, 
come,  it  is  not  from  Brittany  that  you  arrived,  but  a  journey 
farther — shall  we  say  Felix  Aradia  or  Nova  Zembla?  The 
youth  stared  at  her,  bewildered  at  this  outburst.  "How  furious 
the  proud  Athenais  would  be  to  hear  that  !  she  who  fancies 
that  she  fills  the  whole  universe  with  the  beams  she  reflects 
from  'the  Sun.'  But  let  us  look  to  ourselves.  Collect  your 
thoughts.  Of  what  were  you  two  conversing  as  you  came 
ftlong,  she  on  your  arm,  from  the  New  Bridge  hither  ?" 

Trie  youth  repeated  very  accurately  the  dialogue. 

"It  would  be  so,"  muttered  the  auditress.  "Heudicourt  is 
fight — the  woman  wants  to  captivate  every  mortal  son.  At 
all  events,"  she  went  on  aloud,  "you  did  not  confide  to  her 
the  name  of  your  beloved  ?" 

He  shook  his  head,  and  she  approved. 

"Good — we  have  a  chance  to  succeed." 

"Succeed  in  what  ?" 

*'In  the  first  place,  in  shielding  your  sweetheart  from  thf 
pursuit  of  your  rival." 

"Is  it  possible  ?* 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS,  \  ig 

Hearken  to  me  :  The  Marchioness  de  Montespan  is— • 
how  will  I  explain  it  ?  a  great  friend  of  the  King — his  great- 
est,  best  friend — up  to  the  present  time,"  she  said  to  herself. 
"The  King  can  refuse  her  nothing,"  she  proceeded,  for  his 
ear,  "a  matter  of  give  and  take.  Now,  if  my  lady  agrees  to 
take  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  under  her  wing " 

"I  see,"  broke  in  Joel,  encouraged.  "All  you  want  is  this- 
protection,  which  I  will  ask  of  the  lady." 

"You  ?" 

"Of  course  !  the  great  lady  is  not  so  haughty  as  you  say. 
We  chatted  together  on  the  same  frank  footing.  I  will  de- 
clare to  her  that  there  is  nobody  on  the  earth  but  my  Au- 
rore " 

"Mind  you  do  nothing  of  the  sort,  you  blundering  fel- 
low !" 

"Why  not  ?  She  showed  herself  right  kindly  to  me." 

"That  is  the  very  reason." 

"I  do  not  understand." 

"There  is  no  necessity  of  your  understanding." 

"There,  you  are  scoffing  at  me  again,"  murmured  tha 
youth* 

"Do  not  be  angry  with  me  for  that.  I  have  not  had  such 
fun  since  I  lost  my  poor  Scarron.  But  you  are  of  the  most 
laughable  innocence." 

*'In  plain " 

"In  plain,  then,  I  charge  myself  to  speak  for  you  to  the  mar* 
chioness.  I  beg  you  not  to  interrupt  me  ;  and  do  not  do  it, 
even  to  thank  me.  I  have  been  so  much  somebody's  ward 
that  I  am  happy  to  play  the  fairy  godmother  to  somebody 
else.  In  the  first  place,  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  can  stay  here 
until  recovered  from  her  alarm  and  ready  for  me  to  conduct 
her  to  St.  Germain,  where  I  will  lodge  her  by  Madame  de 
Montespan.  Under  the  roof  of  the  royal  residence,  her  un- 
known pursuer  will  not  dare  to  renew  his  attacks.  Hereafter,. 
we  shall  see  what  is  to  be  done.  I  have  your  happiness  in 
my  head,  and  whenever  I  make  up  my  mind  to  anything, 
it  come  to  pass.  In  acting  thus,  I  am  not  purely  giving  the 
man  of  her  choice  to  your  adored  darling  ;  but  a  rarity- 
worthy  of  pairing  off  with  Oger  the  Danish  Knight  for  wild- 
oess  and  for  chastity  with  Scipio  Africanus." 

"  Oh,  madame,  how  kind  you  are,  and  how  heartily  I  bless 
fou." 


1 1 8  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

But  though  she  let  him  kiss  her  hands,  like  the  queen  sht 
dreamed  to  become,  she  receded,  and  in  a  calm  voice  said. 

"  M.  Joel,  allow  me  to  part  company.  I  must  return  ta 
our  interesting  invalid  and  the  children  entrusted  to  my 
care.  All  need  my  attentions.  Besides,  it  is  getting  late,  and 
you  must  be  fatigued  with  your  exertions  and  the  long  race. 
Take  the  needed  repose — in  this  chair — the  best  accommo- 
dation I  can  offer  you;  but  you  must  be  cut  out  for  a  soldier, 
judging  by  the  way  you  wield  the  sword,  and  you  mast  im- 
agine that  you  are  sleeping  on  the  battlefield,  on  a  night  of 
victory.  Good  night  !  courage  and  hope  !" 

Joel  slept  in  the  easy  chair  by  the  chimney  corner,  with  a 
leaden  sleep  till  an  advanced  hour  of  the  morning.  A  maid- 
servant came  to  usher  him  into  the  room  where  Mdlle.  du 
Tremblay  was  reposing. 

Aurore  was  prey  to  a  violent  fever,  as  was  revealed  in  the 
lustre  of  her  eyes,  the  purple  tint  on  her  cheekbones  and 
the  relaxation  of  her  muscles.  When  she  woke,  after  a  night 
of  nightmare,  peopled  with  frightful  panthoms — and  opened 
her  mouth  to  ask  where  she  was,  Widow  Scarron  had  bent 
over  her  and  in  a  most  motherly  voice,  replied: 

"Do  not  question,  my  child.  At  this  moment  the  effort 
to  listen  and  to  speak  may  be  fatal  to  you.  Be  it  enough  to 
know  that  you  are  surrounded  by  friends."  Pointing  to  net 
defender,  who  entered  on  tiptoe,  anxious  and  excited,  she 
added  :  "You  see  that  I  am  not  deceiving  you.  Your 
champion  repeats  my  entreaty.  Friends  have  undertaken 
to  shield  your  head  from  all  danger  from  whatever  quarter  ; 
from  the  malady  which  keeps  you  in  bed,  as  from  the  criminal 
plots  which  threatened  your  honor." 

Joel  knelt  beside  the  pillow;  he  took  the  burning  hand 
and  saluted  it  with  a  reverent  and  gentle  kiss.  She  re- 
sponded by  softly  and  affectionately  pressing  his  hand,  and 
she  would  have  spoken  ;  but  the  Widow  Scarron  again  in- 
tervened : 

"Let  me  once  more,  urge  no  imprudence.  I  prescribe  com- 
plete silence.  And  I  represent  the  Faculty  of  Medicine 
here,  until  the  doctor  arrives.  I  have  sent  an  express  to  SL 
Germain  to  bring  Dr.  Fagon,"  she  continued  to  the  Breton. 
"I  expect  him  to  finish  the  cure  I  have  commenced*  But 
fou  must  not  meet  him  here." 

*'Ar»  you  sending  me  away  r" 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  119 

"Yes;  to  Tournelles  Street  to  begin  with  :  did  you  not  say 
that  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  lived  there  with  an  aged  relative?" 

"Yes,  old  Madame  de  la  Bassetiere." 

"Exactly:  she  must  have  been  mortally  frightened  during 
this  while;  it  is  urgent  to  set  her  at  ease  on  the  fate  of  her 
young  kinswoman,  and  ask  her  approval  of  the  measures  we 
intend  to  take  for  her  welfare." 

Aurore,  in  spite  of  her  state,  did  not  lose  a  word  of  this 
colloquy.  Her  look  seemed  to  say  to  the  royal  governess  : 
"I  thank  you  for  thinking  and  foreseeing  everything  !"  and 
as  clearly  on  its  traveling  to  Joel,  it  spoke;  "Hasten,  my 
friend,  for  mercy's  sake  !" 

"But  I  shall  see  you  again?"  supplicated  the  Breton. 

Widow  Scarron  pushed  him  gently  towards  the  door, 
saying : 

"Yes,  you  may  come  back.  Any  evening.  Is  not  your 
presence  a  remedy,  as  efficacious  as  any  Dr.  Fagon  can  order: 
but  I  must  regulate  the  dose.  Now,  for  heaven's  sake,  get  you 
gone.  Do  you  not  see  that  as  long  as  you  stay,  our  patient 
will  not  close  her  eyes." 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

DAMON  AND  PYTHIAS  IN  THE  i;TH  CENTURY. 


our  adventurer  reached  St.  Antoine  Street,  he  re- 
extraordinary  animation  at  about  the  middle  of  it, 
L*  the  Place  Royale.  Children  were  running  to  and  fro  and 
screaming;  footpassengers  stopped  and  formed  groups;  The 
stoiekeepers  came  out  of  their  doorsills,  and  the  windows 
were  noisily  slammed  up  to  form  the  frames  for  curious 
face*.  Our  astonished  friend  inquired  what  had  happened 
of  an  honest  cobbler  whose  stall  stood  in  the  corner  of  Val 
St.  Catharine-Street. 

"Master,"  responded  the  disciple  of  St.  Crispin,  an  arrest 
has  taken  place  over  yonder  in  the  tavern  of  Pas-de-Mule 
Street  —  an  important  capture  —  of  a  heinous  malefactor." 

"Really?" 

"We  saw  the  officer  and  six  provost  guards  march  past  a 
while  ago,  with  their  halberds  in  the  fist  and  in  the  coats  of 


f  JO  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR. 

the  City  colors.  Look,  it  seems  to  me  that  they  are  com- 
ing back." 

Nothing  so  gathers  a  crowd  in  a  city  as  a  police  arrest.  la 
it  because  we  are  all  likely  to  deserve  our  committal  to  hard 
quarters,  as  a  cynic  might  say?  The  mob  thickened  on  both 
sides  of  an  open  way  hurriedly  formed.  From  all  the  mouths 
of  the  serried  spectators  a  buzz  arose,  from  which  these  sen- 
tences vaguely  stood  out,  so  to  say: 

"It  is  a  murderer — a  thief — a  counterfeiter — a  forger?" 
'"No,  it  was  sacrilege — arson — a  bankruptcy.  "Say,  rather, 
a  conspirator — a  rebel — an  accomplice  of  the  traitors  1" 
"You  are  all  out,  stupids!  it  is  a  maker  of  wax  dolls  which 
kill  the  original  by  inches  as  they  melt  away!  a  poisoner,  who 
went  to  the  witches.  Sabbath  with  Brinvilliers  and  La  Voisin." 

In  the  midst  of  this  uproar,  the  armed  force  marched  on- 
ward  with  a  slowness  due  to  the  hindrance  caused  by  the 
mob  swelling  on  every  point.  The  police  officer  who  preceded 
it,  tried  with  his  long  staff  to  keep  back  the  curious  specta- 
tors who  encumbered  the  way.  His  six  arohers  were  old 
soldiers,  burly  and  ponderous,  who  overshadowed  by  their 
bulk  the  prisoner  whom  they  escorted  ;  among  these  robust 
guards  he  was  dwarfed  so  as  to  seem  a  boy.  Nevertheless,  he 
did  not  fail  to  try  by  drawing  himself  to  his  full  height,  to 
remedy  the  defect  in  stature.  At  the  same  time,  he  was  not 
a  bit  discomfited,  ashamed  or  embarrassed.  Carrying  him- 
self haughtily,  with  his  breast  stuck  out  like  a  pouter  pig- 
eon's, his  head  held  back  disdainfully,  his  hat  cocked  over 
the  ear  and  his  hand  on  his  hip,  he  nodded  to  the  male  by- 
atanders  and  winked  and  smiled  killingly  to  the  ladies. 

When  he  strutted  by  Joel,  the  latter  exclaimed  : 

"Friquet !" 

The  mannikin  did  not  hear  the  word  in  the  disturbance} 
?r  perceive  the  speaker,  he  was  so  busy  about  himself.  A 
g/'rl  who  was  staring,  had  cried  out  this  expression  of  com- 
passion :  "Oh,  the  poor  little  man  !"  and  the  little  Parisian 
testily  retorted  ; 

"Little,  indeed  !  you  impertinent  drab  !  you  are  pretty 
watchmen  that  you  let  hussies  insult  a  cavalier  of  my  rank 
and  quality  under  your  protection." 

Friquet,  the  protege*  of  Minister  Colbert's  kinsman,  ar« 
tested  !  The  Breton  fell  out  of  the  clouds,  and,  seized  with 
ity,  he  ran  to  P»c-du-Mule  Street.  On  espy- 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAM  IS.  in 

ing  him  come  up,  Master  Bonlarron,  who  was  oratingwith  heat 
in  the  midst  of  a  crowd  of  neighbors,  hastened  to  quit  them 
to  hurry  up  to  the  young  man  with  gestures  of  alarm. 

"You  rash  fellow,"  he  said,  pushing  him  inside  his  house. 
"Why  have  you  come  back  ?  away  ! — or,  hide  yourself  1  let 
nobody  suspect  you  are  here." 

"Hide  ?  why  should  I  hide  ?" 

''Because  they  are  after  you  !" 

"After  me  ?" 

"Decidedly.  It  is  by  providence  that  the  police  were 
fooled,  for  they  have  been  fooled — they  never  depart  from 
their  usual  practices.  And  they  have  captured  the  little 
Parisian  instead  of  you.  Yet  there  is  a  difference  in  you  two. 
But  those  asses  can  never  see  clear." 

"Arrested  in  my  stead  ?"  said  Joel,  pinching  himself  to 
make  sure  he  was  awake.  "What  do  you  mean  by  that  ? 
How  comes  Friquet  to  be  taken  for  me  ?'* 

"Well,  he  was  not  sorry  to  be  taken  for  a  topping  blade 
of  your  build." 

"  What  cock-and-bull  story  are  you  cramming  me  with, 
mine  host?  I  can  make  neither  head  nor  tail  of  it.  Pray 
explain." 

"Here  you  have  it.  This  morning,  as  I  was  breakfasting, 
I  saw  an  officer  come  up  with  half-a-dosen  archers  of  the 
City  Guard,  of  whom  he  posted  two  at  my  door.  The 
others  stamped  in  with  him.  I  naturally  asked  them  what 
the  deuce  they  wanted.  Information,  said  they,  and  1  was 
not  to  be  chary  about  it,  as  they  came  in  the  King's  name. 
I  was  overpowered  with  the  honor,  and  begged  them  to  be 
seated,  and  show  how  I  might  be  agreeable  to  his  Most 
Christian  Majesty. 

"  'You  must  frankly  answer  our  questions.* 

"  'I  will  answer  to  any  amount  as  long  as  I  do  not  get 
•myself  into  any  snarl.* 

"You  have  a  guest  freshly  arrived  from  the  country  ?' 

"  'Better  than  that — I  rejoice  in  two.' 

"  '  We  mean  the  one  who.  has  just  been  out  to  St.  Germain?' 

"'Do  you  tell  me  one  has  gone  out  to  St.  Germain? 
Good  !  travel  shapes  young  men — when  it  does  not  knock 
them  out  of  all  shape.' 

"  'The  postmaster  has  sworn  to  letting  him  have  a  horac, 
and  the  innkeeper  at  Pecq  that  he  left  him  there.' 


,tt  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OX. 

*  'Left  the  horse,  eh  ?  that  proves  he  is  an  honest 
gentleman,  anyway.' 

"About  this  time,  the  officer  perceived  that  I  was  toying 
with  him,  and  he  pulled  a  face  as  long  as  a  day  without  a 
cup  of  wine  ;  he  levelled  his  glances  at  me  like  shots  out  of  a 
blunderbuss.  As  if  he  could  daunt  me,  a  veteran  of  Rocroy 
•^iio  shouted,  'Devil  take  you  !'  to  the  Spanish  guns 
vomiting  grapeshot." 

*'  'Friend,  you  are  merry,' he  sneered.  'Always  when  I  am 
not  bilked  by  bad  customers  and  have  cause  to  be  glum.' 

"'We  are  not  talking  of  your  character, but^of  your  lodger's. 
Where  is  he  now  ?' 

"  'How  do  I  know  ?  he  is  not  here,  that  is  flat,  for  he  for- 
got to  come  home  last  night.' 

"  'Are  you  certain  ?' 

"  'As  certain  as  that  this  is  a  glass  of  ratafia  that  I  am  toss- 
ing off  to  your  health." 

"  'Rogue,  you  are  trying  to  deceive  me.  The  bird  is  in  its 
nest.  The  police  agent  who  was  charged  to  watch  him,  saw 
light  in  his  room  last  night,  and  everything  leads  us  to  believe 
hat  lie  has  not  come  forth.' 

"  'If  he  has  not  gone  out,  you  had  better  go  and  take 
him.' 

"  Whereupon  they  went  upstairs  with  a  good  deal  of  cau- 
tion. After  a  while,  they  came  dovm  with  M.  Friquet.  The 
brave  lad?did  not  pretend  to  deny  himself,  or  ratner  deny  you. 
He  marched  along  between  the  halberds  like  the  King  among 
his  guards.  That  Hop-o'-my-thumb  ought  to  be  seven  foot 
high, to  behave  so  handsomely  as  to  let  hinself  be  locked  up 
for  a  friend.  The  only  thing  is  to  see  if  the  police  and  jni- 
tices  like  the  fun  of  the  jest. 

"But  whither  are  they  taking  him?" 

"  I  asked  one  of  the  archers  and  he  said  that  the  usual  pro- 
cess was  to  bring  him  before  Lieutenant  of  Police  Lareynit 
at  the  Chatelet  prison." 

"Ah!" 

"A  magistrate  with  a  heart  of  the  same  stone  as  the  build- 
ing around  him." 

"Well,"  said  Joel,  settling  his  hat  on  firmly:  "  I  wou!4 
like  to  know  the  straight  road  to  the  Chatelet." 

''Halloa!"  ejaculated  the  innkeeper,  starting;  "you  nevci 
mean  to——*' 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  123 

I  am  going  co  appear  in  my  place  before  the  bar  of  jus* 
tice." 

"Why,  you  headlong  fellow,"  said  the  veteran,  "you 
cannot  think  of  it.  It  is  about  that  confounded  duel — and 
the  King  will  be  enraged — killing  his  Musketeer,  and  m  a 
royal  forest!" 

"I  reproach  myself  in  no  way,  and  I  shall  await  the  re- 
tult  of  my  trial  without  fear." 

"But  you  forget  the  edicts  which  you  have  broken." 

"If  the  law,"  tranquilly  returned  the  squire,  "  if  the 
law  punishes  gentlemen  for  obeying  the  dictates  of  honor, 
then  it  is  the  law-maker  who  ought  to  be  punished.  Do  you 
refuse  to  tell  me  the  way  to  the  prison  ?"  he  added,  proceed- 
ing to  the  door. 

"It  will  be  pointing  out  that  to  your  doom." 

"Then  I  must  ask  of  the  first-comer.  I  do  not  want  M. 
Friquet  to  think  that  I  would  profit  by  his  devotion  longer 
than  I  could  help." 

"Tut  !  do  not  bother  about  him — he  will  slip  out  easily. 
A  Parisian  always  comes  out  of  a  scrape  with  glory — if  it  be 
only  vain-glory!" 

The  other  frowned. 

"  Do  you,  an  old  hero,  suggest  such  a  dastard  act  to 
me?" 

"  What  I  suggest  is,  that,  without  losing  a  minute,  you 
make  for  the  St.  Honore  Gate,  quit  Paris  and  hie  you 
home  to  Brittany,  where  you  will  not  be  sought  for." 

'  You  cannot  be  speaking  seriously.  If  you  were,  you 
would  be  insulting  me  so  that  only  your  age  would  protect 
you." 

''  You  stubborn-headed  boy,"  returned  the  tavern-keeper, 
stamping  his  foot,  "are  you  attached  to  nothing — is  there 
nobody  you  love  on  earth  ?" 

"  Hush  !"  interrupted  Joel,  with  a  flow  of  all  the  feeling 
in  his  breast.  "  It  is  wicked  of  you  to  place  a  man  between 
his  love  and  his  duty.  Not  another  word — make  way,"  he 
said  with  an  imperious  wave  of  the  hand  "  Farewell  !" 

"  No,"  said  the  old  sergeant,  throwing  himself  before 
him  ;  "  You  shall  not  make  such  a  blunder — you  shall  not 
go  forth,  by  the  pitchfork  of  Satan  !  I  will  not  have  you  go. 
Come,  come,  the  matter  of  it  is  that  I  like  you,"  went  on  the 
Veteran,  with  his  rough  voice  and  hardened  face  softened 


124  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR 

by  tender  emotion,  "you  might  be' son  of  mine.  It  is 
three  days  since  we  met,  but  it  is  just  the  same  as  though  w« 
had  gone  through  a  campaign  together.  You  are  an  old 
campaigner,  in  tact,  for  you  are  satisfied  with  everything — 
wine,  meat,  bread,  the  waiter  and  the  host.  You  have  first 
class  health  and  a  good  appetite.  And  you  can  fence  like 
the  Archangel  Gabriel !  All  this,  to  moulder  in  jail  !  all  this, 
to  end  on  the  scaffold — I  may  say  !  for  running  a  racketty, 
riotous  sot  through  the  midriff,  who  owes  even  his  landlord 
for  liquor  enjoyed  !  an  old  rat — to  be  paid  for  as  though  he 
were  new.  I  oppose  your  going.  And  have  a  care  how  you 
play  with  my  patience.  Zounds  !  I  have  it  in  me,  to  take 
my  rapier  down  from  the  hooks  and  pin  you  to  the  wall  to 
prevent  you  committing  a  folly  which  I  regard  as  suicide  !" 

Joel  could  but  smile  at  this  singular  way  of  preventing 
self-murder. 

"Mine  host,"  he  said,  "  you  are  an  honest  man,  and  you 
must  forgive  me  for  laying  a  hand  on  you — but  your  obstin- 
acy drives  me  to  it." 

At  the  same  time,  he  seized  the  old  man  by  the  collar,  but 
only  in  fun,  as  if  to  drag  him  away  from  the  doorway  where 
he  had  planted  himself;  as  the  worthy  Bonlarron  threw  out 
both  arms  to  repel  the  attack,  the  Breton  thrust  his  leg  be- 
tween his,  and  gave  him  the  trip  up  in  so  scientific  and  suc- 
cessful a  manner  that  the  result  was  positive  that  the  noble 
art  of  wrestling  was  well  cultivated  in  Belle- Isle.  The  vet- 
eran of  Rocroy  sat  down  on  the  floor  so  roughly  that  every 
bone  in  his  body  had  a  separate  ache. 

"Excuse  me,  papa,"  said  Joel,  "but  I  saw  no  other  way 
out  of  it."  And,  leaping  over  the  dumbfounded  landlord,  ho 
passed  through  the  doorway. 

During  this  time,  M.  de  Lareynie  was  passing  the  time 
away  at  the  Chatelet  by  reading  and  hearing  reports  of  thq 
police.  He  had  a  grave  and  honest  mein  ;  his  broad  fore- 
head wore  the  legal  wig  very  fittingly,  and  there  was  as  much 
integrity  as  energy  in  his  glance. 

He  was  in  the  heart  of  his  business,  a  swarm  of  details, 
when  an  usher  came  in  and  whispered  a  few  words. 

"Ah,"  said  the  magistrate  with  satisfaction,  "so  they  havf 
caught  the  Hector  at  last.  That  is  right.  Bring  him  in." 

A  few  minutes  later,  preceded  by  the  officer  and  followed 
by  the  six  archers,  Friquet  was  introduced  into  the  offic* 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAMIS,  115 

He  advanced  with  his  nose  in  the  air  and  his  moutn  pursed 
up  in  a  kind  of  conceited  smile,  made  a  bow  according  to  the 
rules,  and  opened  his  mouth  to  utter  a  compliment  which 
he  had  prepared  on  the  route,  to  felicitate  the  magistrate  in 
having  the  good  fortune  to  set  at  liberty  so  shining  a  stai 
of  the  future.  But  the  functionary  did  not  allow  him  any 
time  to  do  this. 

"Hillo,  Saint-Jean,"  he  questioned  the  officer  with  aston- 
ishment, "What  under  the  sun  have  you  brought  here  ?" 

"My  lord,  it  is  the  person  you  ordered  us  to  apprehend," 
was  the  exempt's  reply. 

"Have  you  gone  mad,  by  chance?"  returned  the  chief  of  po- 
lice, shrugging  his  shoulders.  "This,  the  man  in  question  ? 
you  cannot  have  consulted  the  description  given  by  all  the 
witnesses  whom  we  examined  !"  Taking  up  a  paper  from 
the  desk,  he  read,  "Here  is  the  paper  !  Read  and  compare  ! 
Height — over  six  feet  ;  aspect — herculean  ;  dress — Breton 
peasant's " 

"But,  my  lord,"  protested  the  officer,  "we  took  the  bird 
in  the  very  room  of  the  very  inn  where  the  stranger  was  said 
to  lodge — I  carefully  questioned  him,  and  he  has  asserted 
that  lie  was  the  duellist  we  were  after." 

"But  you  do  not  accept  such  statements  on  plain  assertion, 
do  you  ?" 

"Why,  my  lord,  when  a  prisoner  owns  up  that  we  have  the 
right  man " 

* 'A  track  to  throw  you  off  the  scent.!  Master  Saint- Jean, 
like  your  name  sake,  you  have  lost  your  head  !  you  are  a 
blockhead  who  have  let  yourself  be  lulled  to  sleep — you  de- 
serve to  be  broken " 

The  infuriated  head  of  police  turned  upon  Friquet  who 
was  cooly  taking  a  chair,  and  challenged  him  roughly  with : 
"Here,  what  are  you  doing  there  ?" 

"Waiting,  at  my  ease,  until  your  lordship  shall  have  con- 
cluded conversing  with  this  officer  on  a  variety  of  subjects 
of  which  I  do  not  understand  the  slightest  word.  At  least, 
ii:  seems  to  me  that  you  accuse  the  poor  fellow  of  commit- 
ting a  blunder — while  it  is  nothing  of  the  kind,  I  assure  your 
lordship,  for  I  am  the  person  whom  the  King  has  no  doubt 
talked  to  you  about." 

"Indeed,  I  am  acting  on  the  express  order  of  his  Ma- 
jesty— but  the  description  does  not  apply " 


THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

"A  fig  for  descriptions  !"  exclaimed  the  Little  Parisian, 
impatiently.  "I  am  not  six  feet  high,  but  after  all  what  ii 
an  inch  under  or  over  ?  As  for  the  dress  of  my  country,  I 
changed  into  the  present  one — just  to  add  to  my  persona) 
advantages  ••" 

"What,  do  you  claim  to  be " 

"Claim  to  be — myself  ?  More  than  claim,  I  am  proud  to 
declare  myself  ! " 

''Is  this  possible  ?"  muttered  Lareynie,  fidgetting  on  his 
chair.  "What  a  hardened  rogue!  so  you  make  a  boast  of  what 
you  have  done  ?" 

"Certainly  I  do.  I  am  not  beginning  my  career  as  a  mili- 
tary engineer.  But  wait,  my  lord,  till  I  make  more  prog- 
ress— you  will  have  the  eyes  dazzled  out  of  your  learned 
head." 

The  Lieutenant  of  the  Royal  Police  turned  to  his  usher  : 
"Are  the  register  and  the  constabulary  sergeants  here  ?" 

"They  are,  my  lord." 

"  Let  them  enter." 

As  soon  as  the  new  force  were  in  the  room,  the  high  of- 
ficial continued  :  "  Clerk,  prepare  to  take  down  the  state- 
ments of  tliis  man.  Sergeants,  place  yourselves  beside  him, 
as  he  is  in  your  custody  now." 

Friquet  looked  with  surprise  at  the  new-comers  and  the 
speaker  : 

"  How  now  ?  what  new  game  are  we  playing  ?  Statement, 
clerk,  constables — Death  of  my  life  !  I  do  not  comprehend 
at  all." 

"  Accused,"  began  the  official  in  a  stern  voice, "  do 
you  acknowledge  having  maliciously  and  aforethought  con- 
travened the  edicts  promulgated  by  our  sire,  the  King——" 

It  was  now  the  Parisian's  turn  to  fidget. 

"  Edicts — what  edicts  ?  Do  I  dream  ?  or  is  it  your  lord, 
ship  who  has  had  a  sunstroke  ?" 

**  The  edicts  bearing  upon  duels,"  continued  Lareynie, 
"consented  to,  and  signed,  through  the  diligence  of  the  late 
Cardinal  Richelieu,  by  the  lamented  King  Louis  XIII.,  and 
renewed  by  the  reigning  monarch,  the  Fourteenth  Louis, 
his  successor,  on  the  nineteenth  of  January  last  in  his  good 
city  of  St.  Germain ** 

*'  I,  contravened  any  edicts  ?"muttered  the  Little  Parisian, 
with  his  hands  hanging  in  his  stupor. 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  137 

M  By  crossing  swords,  in  the  royal  domain  of  St.  Germain 
Forest,  with  Corporal  Bregy  of  the  Royal  Musketeers,  who 
cannot  be  pursued  by  justice  for  aiding  in  this  deed  of  re- 
bellion from  his  having  unfortunately  succumbed  in  this  com- 
bat by  your  act  of  bloodshed " 

Friquet  cried  aloud  :  light  burst  in  upon  his  brain.  It 
was  to  lead  him  before  judges  that  he  was  furnished  with  a 
squad  of  soldiers  and  not  to  escort  him  into  the  minister's 
presence.  He  was  accused  of  treason  and  manslaughter,  and 
was  to  be  shut  up  in  prison — all  in  the  stead  of  his  friend 
Joei  of  Locmaria. 

Without  heeding  the  terror  he  inspired  as  last,  the  magis- 
trate continued  : 

'*'  In  consequence,  you  become  qualified  for  trial  before 
the  tribunal  of  the  Constabulary  and  Marshals  of  France, 
especially  instituted  to  administer  the  laws  of  the  realm  and 
the  will  of  tiie  King  against  those  guilty  of  infringing  them. 
He  paused  to  give  his  hearer  time  to  fully  realize  the  re- 
doubtable sense  in  his  speech,  before  he  solemnly  resumed: 
'*  Misdeeds  of  this  category  bearing  no  less  penalty  than  de- 
captation  by  the  sword " 

Spite  of  his  bravery,  the  Parisian  sank  into  the  seat,  for 
his  legs  gave  away  under  him.  A  red  mist  veiled  his  eyes, 
and  on  the  ruddy  background  he  beheld  a  vision  of  the 
death sman,  with  axe  and  block.  "Unless,"  said  Lareynie, 
the  King  grant  you  grace — which  I  strongly  doubt,  seeing 
the  heinous  nature  of  your  atrocity." 

Friquet  ran  his  hand  round  his  neck  where  a  cold  chill 
seemed  to  strike  like  a  steel  edge. 

"You  must  prepare  to  sign  your  avowal — provided  that 
you  are  the  true  criminal.  For  you  may  have  agreed  with 
him  to  dally  with  justice  that  he  may  profit  by  the  time  gained 
to  make  his  escape  over  the  border " 

This  suggestion  was  a  ray  of  light  to  the  Parisian,  who  was 
quickwitted.  While  he  was  in  jail,  Joel  might  indeed  be 
making  his  flight  homeward.  His  course  was  taken  in  a  trice: 
he  would  support  the  imprisonment  ;  suffer  judgment  to  go 
against  him,  and  even  let  the  execution  goon — for  he  would 
have  saved  his  friend — of  new  creation  but  dear.  His  face 
grew  calm  and  his  limbs  ceased  to  quiver  as  he  arose,  and 
said  steadily  : 

"My  lord.  I  will  trouble  you  for  the  pen  with  which  t« 


12*  THE  SON  OP  PORTHOS;  OR. 

But  at  this  critical  moment,  a  violent  tumult  was  audible 
without ;  above  all  a  vigorous  young  boy  shouted  : 

"1  tell  ye  again  that  I  must  see  M.  de  Lareynie — and  see 
him  I  will,  spite  of  all  the  devils  !  were  you  five  hundred 
Strong,  you  should  not  keep  me  out." 

There  was  a  clash  of  weapons  and  a  scuffle,  before  the 
door  was  dashed  open.  The  Son  of  Porthos  appeared  on  the 
sill.  The  six  archers  courageously  formed  a  line,  and  crossed 
halberds  to  repulse  him.  To  the  rescue  ran  the  two  consta- 
bles, while  the  exempt  and  the  clerk  valiantly  formed  a  rea- 
guard.  Joel  had  not  drawn  his  sword,  but,  without  raising 
a  hand,  he  cut  through  the  defenders  as  if  he  were  a  cyclone. 
He  planted  himself  in  front  of  the  Chief  of  Police. 

"My  lord,"  he  began,  "I  know  what  is  going  on.  This 
splendid  fellow  is  sacrificing  himself  for  me.  But  I  do  not 
accept  the  sacrifice.  It  was  I  who  violated  the  edicts  for  I 
drew  my  sword  in  the  precincts  of  St.  Germain,  and  slew  Cor- 
poral Bregy.  The  King  calls  for  my  head — I  bring  it  on  my 
shoulders;  but  let  me  solicit  a  boon  of  your  justice  and  hu- 
manity. Let  my  poor  friend  go  free,  who  is  at  the  worst  guilty 
solely  of  heroism  and  devotedness.'* 

"Monsieur,  what  you  desire  shall  be  done,"  replied  the 
Police  Lieutenant,  moved  to  the  heart  by  the  young  man's 
air,  action  and  language.  "You  may  depart,"  he  said  to 
Friquet. 

The  latter  leaped  into  the  new-comer's  arms,  faltering: 

"Joel,  Joel,  what  made  you  come  here  ?  why  did  you  not 
let  things  have  their  way?  I  should  have  been  so  happy  to 
contribute  to  your  welfare.  'Sblood,  why  am  I  thwarted  ?" 

He  was  choking  with  mingled  grief  and  joy,  as  the  Breton 
folded  him  to  his  heart  in  a  brotherly  embrace  in  which  he 
almost  disappeared. 

The  magistrate  bent  towards  the  police  officer,  and  said 
with  the  conceit  of  one  who  rarely  was  at  fault : 

"Now  we  have  t\*i  right  man,  Saie*-Tean!  This  is  the  one 
you  should  have  htamllod — though  it  might  have  cost  you 
some  pains.  Did  I  not  intimate  all  along  that  it  would  take 
to  lay  low  a  Bregy  quite  another  antagonist  than  this  mani- 
kin?" 

Manikin  ?  at  any  other  time  the  derided  Tom  Thumb 
would  have  resented  the  epithet,  but  at  this  moment  the  Lit- 
tle Parisian  was  too  excited  to  notice  it. 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAM  IS  129 

*J  Constables,*     proceeded  the   magistrate.     "  dc    four 
duty !" 

The  two  constables  marched  up  to  the  youth  anj  one 
said, 

"In  the  King's  name,  I  charge  you  to,  surrender  your 
Aword." 

The  other  drew  from  his  pocket  a  short  ebony  wand  with 
a  white  knob  and,  tapping  the  youth  on  the  shoulder,  said  : 

"In  the  King's  name,  I  arrest  you." 

Within  half  an  hour,  the  squire  was  walked  out  of  tht 
Chatelet  between  the  two  sergeants  to  a  coach  stationed  on 
the  waterside.  The  soldiers  made  him  step  into  it  and 
placed  themselves  on  the  opposite  seat  to  that  he  occupied: 
the  rule  is  for  one  of  two  constables  to  sit  beside  the  pris- 
oner, but  in  this  cage  there  was  no  room.  A  mounted  ar- 
cher of  the  watch  rode  up  to  each  door,  and  at  once,  off 
went  the  whole  equipage  at  a  gallop. 

After  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  it  stopped  before  a  fortress,  de- 
fended by  an  abundance  of  moats,  ramparts  and  outworks, 
and  with  high  towers  outlined  against  the  sky. 

"Get  down,"  said  one  of  the  sergeants. 

Joel  obeyed.  Two  soldiers  who  seemed  to  await  him, 
took  each  an  arm.  A  man  with  a  bunch  of  keys  in  his  hand, 
took  the  lead.  The  little  party  passed  under  a  vaulted  roof, 
over  a  draw-bridge,  through  a  guardroom,  and  a  maze 
of  stairs  and  corridors,  after  a  large  yard.  Thus  they 
reached  the  third  floor,  where  one  door  after  another  was 
opened  to  the  number  of  three.  Here  the  prisoner  was 
thrust  into  a  cell,  furnished  with  bed,  table  and  chair. 

"Here  you  are,  at  home,"  said  the  turnkey. 

He  withdrew   with  the  two  soldiers,  and  the  keys  were 
heard  grating  in  the  locks,  and  the  bolts  shooting  into  their 
(Dockets.    This  sourd  aroused  the  captive,  who  had  mechanic-  ( 
ally  paced  the  long  way,  accepting  all  that  happened  him  as  I 
iin  a  dream  the  most  monstrous  conceptions  are  met  without' 
fcesitation  and  without  astonishment.     He  strode  to  the  doot 
and  called: 

"Hey,  you  fellows  !** 

"What  is  wanting  so  soon,"  demanded  the  jailer  through 
the  barred  wicket  in  the  thick  door. 

"One  word,  I  prithee." 

"Be  iharpl" 


130  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS  ;  OR. 

"I  should  be  obliged  to  you  for  telling  me  in  what  plac« 
I  am." 

"Beginning  your  jokes  already,  eh  ?"  grumbled  the  man, 
as  he  departed.  "As  though  you  did  not  know,  as  well  as 
{me,  that  you  are  in  the  Bastille." 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE   COUNTERCHECK. 

SINCE  a  month,  Louis  XIV.  had  returned  to  St.  Germain, 
«nd  the  little  town  reassumed  the  gala  aspect  imported  by 
the  monarch  and  his  appanage.  He  was  then  in  the  apogee 
of  his  power,  and  the  "divinity  which  hedges  a  king"  sancti- 
fied even  his  foibles.  He  did  not  dissimulate  any  of  them. 
Montespan  was  the  titular  favorite  and  mother  of  his  progeny 
whom  the  Widow  Scarron  cared  for,  and  he  had  just  re- 
warded the  latter  by  conferring  upon  her  ihe  rank  of  Mar- 
chioness de  Suggere.  Madame  de  Sevigne",  whose  friend  she 
was  but  who  spared  nobody  with  her  wit,  ran  off  a  series  of 
jests  on  the  tide,  which  she  misread  as  *' Suggest." 

"A  happy  suggestion  of  his  Majesty,  she  whispered  to 
the  courtiers,  "indeed,  she  had  from  somebody  \\itsuggestion 
to  wed  the  cripple  Scarron  ;  it  was  suggested  to  the  mason 
he  that  should  predict  her  a  great  fortune  and  I  should  not 
wonder  if  envy  suggested  that  she  should  undermine  the 
benefactress  who  raised  her  from  poverty  to  confide  to  her 
the  care  of  her  children  by  the  King." 

Apart  from  iheladies  and  courtiers  discussing  this  promo- 
tion and  the  bad  news  of  the  Queen's  health,  the  officers  of 
the  lifeguards  were  conversing  on  matters  of  discipline.  They 
were  the  Lieutenant  of  the  Musketeers,  Maupertuis,  and  the 
present  captain  and  his  predecessor  of  the  Guards,  Gesvres 
and  Brissac. 

"What  has  become  of  that  limb  of  the  fiend?"  inquired 
the  last  of  the  Musketeer.  I -mean  that  young  bravo  from 
the  provinces  who  slew  one  of  your  corporals?" 

"Yes,  with  a  spledid  thrust  through  the  chest.  Wcllj  htf 
is  still  under  lock  and  bar.1' 

"Are  they  not  going  to  try  hintf" 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  131 

"It  is  in  doubt  what  to  do — for  he  may  not  be  of  noblf 
blood  as  he  pretends.  He  is  plain  Joel." 

"Impossible!  where  can  a  commoner  have  picked  up  sec. 
rets  of  fencing  to  kill  a  royal  Musketeer?" 

"Ay,  and  with  a  thrust  known  only -in  our  regiment,  but 
which  had  almost  passed  out  of  memory  with  the  heavy 
swords  for  which  it  was  invented.  It  was  called  the  'Thrust 
Porthos,'  from  a  famous  gentleman-Musketeer  of  the  past 
reign  who  used  it  to  fatal  advantage." 

**  For  my  part,"  continued  Maupertuis,  "I  should  send 
him  home  to  plant  his  cabbages  and  cut  them  with  his  huge 
•word,  for,  all  taken  into  account,  he  fought  like  a  brave 
man.  We  swordsmen  never  yet  thought  a  duelist  dishonor- 
ed for  having  broken  the  law.  The  dishonor  would  have  been 
in  his  refusing  the  challenge." 

"You  are  not  very  kind  to  your  soldiers,"  observed  Gesvres. 

"  Oh,  to  tell  you  the  truth,  gentlemen,  this  Bregy  was  nofc 
prepossessing  :  a  toper  who  drank  when  not  dicing,  and 
wrangled  when  not  dicing.  Still,  his  Majesty  is  angry  at 
the  edicts  of  his  father  being  laughed  at,  since  he  renewed 
them,  and  I  had  hard  work  to  pluck  from  under  the  royal 
paw  four  of  my  soldiers  who  were  seconds  in  the  combat." 

"  And  did  he  pardon  them  ?" 

'*  Wei!,  so  far  as  life  goes  ;  but  they  must  step  out  of  the 
household  of  troops'  uniform  and  join  the  active  army  in 
Lorraine." 

"  Why  not  send  the  Breton  along  with  them — he  seems 
even  more  admirably  adapted  as  food  for  powder." 

"Nay,  they  will  waste  him  in  prison  or  in  the  galleys — un- 
less they  shoot  him  or  hang.'' 

"How  old  is  the  poor  fellow  ?"  asked  Brisac,  yawning  be- 
hind ids  gauntlet. 

"On  my  honor,  I  do  not  know.  I  have  never  seen  him.  Say 
between  twenty  and  thirty,  I  suppose." 

The  guard  officer  combed  his  moustache  and  thought- 
tully  remarked,  "In  that  case,  he  had  better  be  done  for  at 
once  before  he  pinks  more  of  our  fellows." 

On  the  same  terrace,  in  a  more  remote  spot,  the  Duke  of 
Almada  was  strolling,  leaning  on  Boislaurier's  arm. 

"It  is  very  bad,"  said  he,  "that  all  your  efforts  to  trace 
that  young  beauty  should  have  been  useless." 

"Alas,  my  lord  :  all  our  pack  of  sleuth-hounds  have  been 
•ent  afield,  but  the  best  have  drawn  blank." 


132  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

"So  have  those  whom  I  privately  employed,"  continued  the 
ambassador,  snappishly.  "My  man  Esteban  is  the  cunningest 
knave  that  ever  was;  the  rascal  calling  himself  Captain  Cord- 
buff  has  a  nasty  cut  to  seek  revenge  for;  Desgrais,  the  sharp 
police-spy  who  tracked  the  Marchioness  de  Brimvilliers  to  Liege 
and  arrested  her  there— he,  like  the  rest,  has  been  flouted,  baffled, 
and  foiled  to  the  top  of  their  skill." 

"Has  your  excellency  reflected  on  this  point,"  went  on  Bois* 
laurier  after  a  pause:  "if  I  am  to  believe  the  reports  of  my  spies, 
that  Madame  de  la  Bassetiere,  who  is  her  relative,  frets  not  a  bit 
over  her  young  kinswoman's  disappearance.  From  this  I  infer 
that  she  is  not  ignorant  where  she  is  hidden." 

"You  may  infer  as  much." 

"And  has  not  my  lord  sought  to  extract  information  from  her?' 

"It  has  been  tried  without  success.  Nothing  can  be  drawn. 
Her  old  servant-woman  is  equally  as  impenetrable.  So  things 
come  round,''  he  added,  with  forced  gaiety;  "in  the  entire 
universe,  only  one  incorruptible  chamberwoman  existed,  and  luck 
falls  so  that  she  is  across  our  path." 

A  fresh  silence  ensued,  which  the  subordinate  broke. 

"Can  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  have  returned  home  ?" 

"Into  Anjou  ?  I  have  written  thither  for  news,  and  the  answer 
came  this  morning  that  she  had  not  been  seen." 

"Then  we  must  throw  down  the  cards,  the  winning  one  is  not 
among  them." 

"Wherefore?"  returned  the  duke  quickly.  "It  is  missing,  bin 
we  can  fabricate  another  or  find  one  to  our  hand.  At  the  same 
time,  I  do  not  conceal  that  this  loss  puts  me  in  a  terrible  turmoil 
Confound  that  young  springald?" 

"What  springald,  my  lord?"  inquired  Boislaurier,  looking  round 
on  the  group  of  courtiers. 

"Oh,  that  bucolic  Amadis  who  happened  upon  the  scene 
just  in  the  nick  to  cut  the  prey  out  of  the  grip  of  our  myu 
midons.  We  must  settle  accounts  one  of  these  days  with 
him."  Pressing  the  companion's  arm,  he  pursued  with  a 
dreajny  eye,  "let  me  tell  you,  good  Boislaurier,  that  some 
indescribable,  mysterious  sympathy  attracts  me  towards  that 
young  man;  when  first  my  sight  lit  upon  him,  I  felt  that  cold 
tremor  which  the  superstitious  say  denotes  that  one  is  walk- 
ing on  a  grave.  He  pleased  me  highly  at  the  Saumur  inn. 
His  appearance  and  his  assertive  manner  remind  me  of  a 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  133 

dear  old  friend  whose  loss  wrung  from  me  many  wars,  I  should 
have  liked  to  help  him  on,  but  the  upstart  flounders  into 
the  centre  of  my  web  and  upsets  my  plans.  So  much  the 
worse  for  him  !  Never  has  man  thwarted  rne  and  not  re- 
pented it.  I  level  obstacles  :  I  overthrow  adversaries  and  I 
kill  enemies." 

"But  has  not  this  youth  likewise  disappeared  ?" 

"Yes  :  a  proof  that  the  pair  have  gone  off  together.  But  I 
shall  find  them,  and " 

A  threatening  gesture  as  of  one  snapping  a  twig  in  two, 
energetically  completed  the  interrupted  phrase. 

"  But  what  is  going  on  yonder  ?"  he  said,  in  a  change  of 
tone.  "  Why  that  flocking  to-  one  spot  ?  has  the  King  come 
forth  ?'» 

There  was  a  great  stir  on  the  terrace  and  in  the  grounds. 

"  My  lord,  it  is  the  Marchioness  de  Montespan  entering 
the  Bowling-green  alley." 

"  Ah,  very  well — I  understand.  Alone  in  her  room  sits 
Queen  Maria  Theresa  ;  but  the  gilded  throng  crowds  around 
.he  favorite.  Is  his  Majesty  accompanying  the  latter  ?" 

"  No.  your  grace,  there  are  -but  two  ladies  by  her  side — 
ner  familiar  fiend  the  Widow  Scarron,  and — and " 

"  One  of  her  sisters,  of  course  ?" 

"  Nay — it  cannot  be — I  am  the  sport  of  some  illusion  !*' 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?"  queried  Almada. 

The  gentleman  did  not  reply  immediately  ;  he  rivetted 
his  eyes  on  the  marchioness's  companion,  and  finally  fal- 
tered : 

"  Still,  that  step,  those  features — why,  'tis  the  same — my 
lord,  it  is  the  giil  whom  we  believed  buried  in  the  bowels  of 
the  eartn — She  who  escaped  all  our  researches — Mdlle.  du 
Tremblay." 

"  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  !"  was  the  outcry  of  the  Spanish 
duke. 

"  None  other — you  have  but  to  look.  There,  by  the  edge 
of  the  great  fountain  basin." 

Almada  shielded  his  eyes  with  his  hand  and  after  a  long 
scrutiny,  replied  : 

''  You  made  no  error.  It  is  she.  On  my  soul,  the  poet  is 
right  who  said  tiiat  'Truth  is  stranger  than  fiction.'  Rubbing 
his  hands  and  cracking  the  knuckles  to  overcome  their  stiff- 
ness, he  chuckled:  "  Who  spoke  of  throwing  down  the  cards? 


134  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

We  shall  win  with  ours,  because  it  is  in  the  hands  of  the  op« 
ponent.  Boislaurier,  this  time  the  game  is  ours." 

In  fact,  they  saw  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay. 

She  walked  on  one  side  of  the  Marchioness  de  Montespan, 
who  had  the  Widow  Scarron  on  her  left.  The  favorite  wore 
a  silken  robe  of  sky  blue  ;  the  governess  a  dead-leaf  colored 
dress,  rather  poor  in  eSect;  while  the  new-comer,  thanks  to 
the  plotter's  suggestion,  and  to  shine  the  brighter  for  her  dull 
army,  was  clad  in  a  changeable  silk.  It  was  trimmed  with 
Venetian  point  lace  and  knots  of  pale  green,  and  amid  the 
pearly  and  rosy  tints  of  the  silk,  she  was  fair  to  an  extent 
that  would  have  paled  the  stars.  This  was  not  the  court 
type,  to  which  the  artifices  of  the  toilet  contributed  a  main 
part  but  the  loveliness  which  prolongs  the  pleasure  of  the  gaze 
and  discloses  innumerable  fascinations  at  svery  turn.  Amid 
these  charms  must  be  cited  the  melancholy  and  the  indiffer- 
ence which  were  read  on  the  girlish  face  as  on  an  open  page. 
Aurore  considered  the  brilliant  courtiers  with  neither  amaze 
nor  embarrassment,  neither  curiosity  nor  interest.  Mortal 
repining  was  visible  behind  the  immobile  and  languid  mask. 
Everybody  wondered  who  was  this  new-comer  who  soared 
above  the  glitter  which  environed  her — the  glory  of  the 
foremost  court  in  Christendom. 

As  the  three  ladies  stopped  before  still  another  compli- 
menting gathering,  anew  movement  was  made  in  the  elegant 
assemblage.  All  mouths  opened  at  once  and  the  whisperran 
from  the  forest  gates  to  the  terrace  balustrade: 

"The  King,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  the  King!" 

Louis  the  Great  decended  the  palace  sstairs. 

He  was  the  Grand  Monarque  in  all  the  Force  of  his  age, 
fortune  and  glory.  This  day  he  wore  the  countenance  he 
put  on  when,  as  St.  Simon  the  memoir-writer  says,  "he 
meant  to  transact  business."  He  was  clad,  too,  in  black  vel- 
vet, with  worked  gold  buttons;  the  Blue  Ribbon  crossed  his 
scarlet  satin  vest,  embroidered  with  flowers.  A  white  plume 
curled  around  his  beaver.  The  only  jewels  were  in  his  shoes 
and  garters.  He  leaned,  for  effect  rather  than  for  support, 
on  a  cane  with  a  jeweled  handle. 

As  the  courtiers  swarmed  round  him,  he  looked  more  care- 
worn, and  made  a  sign  that  he  wished  to  be  alone  with  the 
Marchioness  de  Montespan.  On  seeing  the  King  draw  near, 
both  her  companions  had  started  to  withdraw,  but  she  had 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  135 

beckoned  them  back,  and  said  with  that  blood  familiarity 
which  she  showed  to  the  greatest  personage  of  the  kingdom, 
and  which  her  lover  allowed  her  to  use  towards  him,  though 
be  was  a  stickler  about  etiquette. 

"  Sire,  here  is  the  Marchioness  de  Suggfcre,  who  wishes 
nothing  so  much  as  to  thank  your  Majesty  for  the  new  favor 
of  which  she  is  the  object." 

Widow  Scarron  made  a  low  courtesy,  and  said  : 

"  Will  the  King  permit  the  most  devoted  of  his  servants 
to  present  the  expression  of  boundless  gratitude  for  the  boons 
with  which  she  has  been  ceaselessly  overwhelmed  by  the 
most  generous  and  magnificent  of  sovereigns." 

Her  voice  trembled,  which  was  adding  sugar  to  the  sweet, 
in  uttering  this  studied  speech  of  which  the  vain  Louis  de- 
lightfully swallowed  the  laudative- epithets.  Nothing  was 
more  agreeable  to  a  ruler  whom  seventy  years'  reign  had  but 
partly  dulled  to  the  joy  of  being  praised  and  adored. 

"  Marchioness,"  responded  he,  "1  felt  bound  to  reward 
the  care  with  which  you  have  surrounded  my  children,  for 
whom  I  am  not  unaware  that  you  have  been  truly  a  moth- 
er." 

This  was  an  undisguised  fling  at  La  Montespan,  but  she 
merely  smiled  as  she  plied  her  fan.  The  monarch  turned 
to  her  without  having  paid  the  faintest  attention  to  Mdlle. 
du  Tremblay,  and  said  abruptly  to  the  favorite  : 

"  Now  for  us  two,madame." 

With  the  greatest  tranquility  the  marchioness  walked  on 
beside  him,  in  silence,  for  she  was  waiting  for  the  onset, 
though  she  preserved  her  calmness.  On  the  contrary,  the 
King  was  agitated. 

"Madame,"  he  said,  at  last  finding  courage,  "to  my  re- 
gret I  have  to  inform  you  of  a  decision  I  have  come  to,  which 
will  certainly  afflict  you  as  much  as  it  does  myself.  It  is 
necessary  that  we  should  be  most  careful  in  our  relations  ; 
the  Queen  is  so  very  ill  that  I  am  bound  to  spare  her  every- 
thing of  the  nature  to  distress  her  and  impede  her  recovery., 

"Ah,  indeed  !"  sighed  the  marchioness  with  the  utmost 
indifference.  The  King  was  evidently  ill  at  ease,  for  he  did 
not  look  at  the  lady  and  pretended  to  flip  a  white  pebble  on 
the  path  with  his  cane.  She  kept  her  eyes  on  him,  though 
with  the  tranquility  which  was  exasperating  to  him. 

"I  see,"  said  she  trifling  with  her  <an,"that  your  Maiesty 


136  THE  SON  OF  PQRTHOS ;  OR, 

has  been  listening  to  the  Queen's  physicians,  who  must  say 
something  horrifying  to  earn  their  salaries." 

"  No,  madame,  I  have  listened  solely  to  my  own  feelings, 
which  alone  I  obey." 

As  if  she  had  not  heard  him,  the  favorite  went  on: 

"As  you  have  decided,  it  only  remains  to  me  to  bow  to 
your  will  as  to  .'.heir  wisdom.  The  preachers  Bossuet  and 
Bourdaloue  are  possessed  with  eloquence  to  make  converts 
through  a  wall  of  stone — I  have  been  converted,  and  relig- 
ion and  duty  justify  me  in  breaking  the  bonds  which  are  a 
weight  upon  my  conscience  and,  an  outrage  on  morality." 

"What  !"  exclaimed  the  monarch,  wincing,  and  at  the 
height  of  stupefaction,  "Do  you,  marchioness,  propose " 

"That  we  should  part  ?  Just  so,  sire.  I  take  the  first 
step.  I  am  only  too  happy  to  spare  you  the  chagrin  of  tell- 
ing me  to  depart.'* 

But  she  did  not  cease  to  smile,  and  the  King  could  not 
understand  her.  It  was  not  without  violent  apprehension  that 
he  had  made  up  his  mind  to  announce  the  rupture  to  his 
left-hand  queen.  He  expected  the  outbursts  of  unspeak- 
able furies  for  which  the  marchioness  was  famous.  More 
than  once  he  had  felt  their  lash.  But  the  irritable  Athenais 
spoke  without  anger  and  sharpness.  This  resignation  of- 
fended him,  for  was  it  not  an  insult  to  his  winning  self? 

"It  is  a  settled  thing"  said  "the  Marvel  of  Beauty,"  "I  quit 
the  court  to-morrow.  The  sooner  the  better,  methinks,  for 
good  intentions  should  be  carried  out  without  delay." 

4 'Do  you  then  quit  my  court  without  unwillingness,  regret 
and  bitterness?" 

"It  is  thus  I  go." 

Louis  bit  his  lip,  unable  to  admit  that  he  could  be  dis- 
pensed with. 

"I  have  no  reason  to  be  uneasy  about  my  children,  as  I  so 
recently  heard  your  Majesty  say  they  would  be  cared  for  by 
their  second  mother.  Besides,  I  may  be  allowed  to  see  them 
in  roy  retreat  at  Clagnv,  where  I  intend  awaiting  the  farther 
pleasure  of  the  King." 

"In  that  out  of  the  way  place,  a  suburb  of  Versailles  f" 

A  desert  is  the  fit  refuge  for  one  who  must  look  to  her 
salvation:  so  I  supplicate  your  Majesty  not  to  -stand  in  She 
way  of  my  holy  occupation.  Like  Mary  Magdalen  the  great 
sinner,  I  want  to  repent  of  my  errors,  which  are  zlst*  in 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  1 37 

degree  your  own,  so  that  my  prayers  must  include  my  Louis,  and 
of  the  scandal  which  we  both  have  set  before  a  world  too  good 
for  me.  I  shall  implore  heaven  to  make  those  forget  me 
whom  I  shall  strive  to  forget  while  praying,  trying  to  be 
contrite  and  performing  deeds  of  benevolence." 

"  Would  you  try  to  forget  everybody  ?" 

"  Without  exception." 

Louis  cropped  the  head  off  a  magnificent  pond  lily  with 
a  cut  of  his  cane.  So  he  could  be  forgotten — ignored  ? 
His  unmeasured  pride  was  stung  to  the  quick  :  but  hiding 
his  wound  under  a  stiff  and  offended  air,  he  said  : 

"  Enough  !  go  when  and  whither  you  will." 

"As  soon  as  I  shall  have  discharged  a  duty — placed  under 
the  sceptre  of  your  Majesty's  justice  a  person  whom  the 
Queen's  friends  themselves  would  deem  worthy  of  your  in- 
terest." 

She  beckoned  to  Aurore,  who  had  stood  at  a  distance,  and 
added  : 

"Come  hither,  mademoiselle." 

She  obeyed,  blushing  with  emotion. 

"Sire,  this  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay,  daughter  of  one  of  your 
old  and  faithful  servants,  who  has  been  pursued  by  villains 
— perhaps  seeking  to  repay  upon  the  daughter  of  the  former 
Governor  of  your  royal  prison  of  the  Bastille,  the  grudge 
which  they  owed  him  and  your  Majesty.  She  begs  to  be 
placed  under  the  safeguard  of  your  justice  and  authority." 

Louis  examined  Aurore  who  courteseyed  to  him,  and  he 
was  impressed  deeply  by  her  angelic  appearance  and  pure 
looks.  La  Montespan  did  not  fail  to  mark  the  effect  and  a 
gleam  of  satisfaction  sparkled  in  her  eyes. 

"Sire,  the  lady  has  been  the  victim  of  an  audacious  at- 
tempt to  abduct  her  in  the  streets  of  Paris,  almost  in  the  day, 
and  only  by  a  miracle  did  she  escape  the  ruffians.  Speak, 
my  young  friend,  lest  his  Majesty  believe  the  event  impos* 
sible." 

The  girl  related  the  incident  in  a  few  telling  words. 

"By  my  soul,"  exclaimed  the  hearer,  <0Such  a  misdeed 
is  not  to  go  unpunished.  The  author  shall  be  found  out, 
for  which  I  will  give  orders  to  my  Police  Lieutenant." 

"I  doubt  not,"  said  the  marchioness,  "that  the  perpetrator 
is  some  considerable  personage  who  is  above  the  laws." 

"Madame,"  retorted  Louis,  frowning  gravely,  "know  that 


13*  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

nobody  in  my  kingdom  may  brave  with  impunity  the  law% 
which  are  for  all." 

"Yet,"  persisted  the  marchioness,  "I  should  beg  measures 
to  be  taken  for  our  safety,  for  I  reckon  on  being  accom- 
panied to  the  Clagny  Convent  by  this  poor  haunted  girl." 

The  King  held  out  his  hand  over  Aurore's  sunny  head 
with  a  dignified  gesture,  and  answered: 

"Rest  tranquil.  The  young  lady  is  now  beneath  my  pro- 
tection. I  shall  take  heed  that  everbody  knows  this,  and  woe 
to  whomsover  is  guilty  towards  her  of  any  enterprise  of  the 
kind  stated." 

"Oh,  sire,  how  kind  you  are,"  faltered  the  girl. 

"Thank  me  not,"  returned  the  ruler.  "It  is  a  prince's 
duty  to  watch  over  the  repose  and  virtue  of  his  subjects. 
A  sweet  duty  to  fulfill,"  he  gallantly  subjoined,  without  tak- 
ing his  gaze  off  Aurore,  "when  the  object  is  the  daughter  of 
one  of  his  gentlemen  and  is  herself  one  of  the  most  accom- 
plished persons  whom  I  have  ever  had  the  blessing  to  ad» 
mire  in  my  court." 

"Your  Majesty  is  too  good,"  stammered  the  girl,  no  less 
confused  by  the  look  than  by  the  compliment. 

"Ha!"  muttered  the  marchioness;  "The  fish  nibbles — he 
will  gorge  this  bait." 

"If  you  must  go,"  said  the  King  to  the  elder  lady,  slowly 
and  watching  her  now,  ''at  least  I  may  come  at  times  to  dis- 
turb your  solitude  ?  Besides,  you  must  return  when  I  shall 
have  silenced  ridiculous  gossips  and  importunate  counsellors 
— "  Athenais  shook  her  head  hopelessly,  but  he  continued: 
"If  only  to  show  your  charming  prot£ge"e  that  your  pleading 
is  not  forgotten." 

"If  your  Majesty  commands,  and  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  re- 
quires a  court  presentation,  we  shall  hasten.  Otherwise — " 
She  heaved  a  deep  sigh  and  hid  her  face  behind  her  fan. 
He  may  have  thought  to  hide  a  tear — if  so,  it  was  one  of 
glee  and  triumph. 

The  King  turned  away  as  well  from  the  two  ladies  as  from 
all  the  others  and  the  courtiers,  and  leaning  against  a  statue 
pedestal,  he  was  buried  in  musing  when — as  if  the  marble 
were  suddenly  imbued  with  speech,  he  heard  these  word* 
whispered  in  on  odd  voice: 

"  Is  she  not  divinely  fair?" 

The  King  abruptly  turned  round  and  from  his  lips  burst 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  139 

the  name  of  the  Duke  of  Almada.  It  was,  indeed,  Aramis 
who  had  noiselessly  glided  up  and  saluted  the  King  of  France. 
The  latter  did  not  like  this  interruption  ;  he  liked  tne^man  as 
little.  He  had  never  forgotten  the  tragic  episode  in  his  youih, 
which  we  have  related  in  the  works  entitled  "Louise  de  I*a 
Valliere"and  "The  Man  in  the  Iron  Mask,"  but  which  might 
have  borne  the  name  of  "The  conspiracy  of  Aramis."  Its 
object,  it  will  be  recalled,  was  to  seat  on  the  throne  the  elder 
and  twin  brother  of  Louis,  who  was  incarcerated  from  his 
majority  in  the  Bastille  and  terminated  his  wretched  life  in 
another  prison,  where  he  was  seen  by  Athos  and  his  son 
Bragelonne,  while  the  prince  was  wearing  the  Iron  Mask 
and  was  guarded  by  Captain  d'Artagnan.  The  King  re- 
membered with  horror  that  Aramis  had  dared  to  lay  violent 
hands  u'pon  him,  when  he,  assisted  by  the  gigantic  Porthos, 
abducted  him  by  night  from  the  Chateaux  of  Vaux,  and 
crammed  him  into  a  dungeon,  where  he  almost  perished  of 
terror,  rage  and  despair.  This  old  man  beside  him  had  once 
dethroned  him  to  place  in  his  stead  his  other  self,  and  such 
deeds  are  never  forgiven  by  kings.  Hence  Louis  XIV. 
would  never  forgive  the  Chevalier  d'Herblay,  the  Bishop  of 
Vannes,  the  comrade  of  Porthos  du  Vallon,  the  friend  of 
Fouquet,  and  the  Aramis  who  had  extorted  his  terms  from 
Anne  of  Austria,  his  mother.  But  Aramis  knew  what  he  was 
talking  about  when  he  assured  Athos,  during  his  flight  from 
the  royal  justice,  that  he  had  but  to  reach  Spain  to  reconcile 
himself  with  the  King  whom  he  flouted.  Indeed,  as  General 
of  the  Jesuits,  he  had  mounted  to  the  Embassy  of  Spain  for 
the  French  Court.  The  necessity  of  reasons  of  State  Policy 
constrained  Louis  to  welcome  the  Duke  of  Almada,  the  con- 
fident of  his  brother-in-law  Charles  II.  .  Stiilit  was  almost 
without  precedent  that  anybody  should  put  a  question  to  a 
King,  and  Louis  assumed  a  stiff  attitude  and  chilling  haught- 
iness. 

"My  lord,"  he  said  in  a  tone  in  agreement  with  attitude 
and  look,  "methinks  that  you  question  me  ?" 

"Heaven  forbid  that  I  should  so  far  forget  my  respect," 
responded  the  old  duke,  bowing.  "I  only  ventured  to  be  the 
echo  of  your  Majesty's  thought,  read  on  your  august  brow. 
Overlook,  I  pray  you,  my  error  or  my  wrongfulness  in  act." 

"Of  whom  are  you  speaking.'*'  demanded  the  King,  a  little 
affected  by  this  keenness  of  sight 


140  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR. 

"Of  the  lady  who  has  just  had  the  honor  of  conversing  witfc 
your  Majesty." 

"Oh,  true — Madame  de  Montespan  was  announcing  hei 
retirement  to  a  nunnery,  and " 

"A  peaceful  journey?"  exclaimed  Aramis,  and  then  to  him-, 
•elf  he  quickly  said:  "Into  a  nunnery.  Ah,  now  she  will 
be  dwelling  in  my  states — and  I  shall  know  all  her  moves." 
Aloud,  he  observed  significantly,  "It  is  of  the  other,  the 
younger  lady  that  I  spoke.  The  marchioness  is  indisput- 
ably fair,  but  only  the  fairest  of  earthly  creatures,  while  her 
companion  is  like  an  an<>i  come  down  upon  the  earth. 
Mdlle.  du  Tremblay " 

"Then  you  know  her?" 

"Such  is  my  happiness,  and  I  take  the  liberty  to  add  that 
never  has  a  loftier  and  braver  spirit  inhabited  a  more  perfect 
frame." 

In  the  silence  ensuing,  the  sovereign's  hostility  was  fought 
against  by  a  powerful  curiosity. 

*You  began  to  say  that  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay——" 

"She  is  of  a  good  house  in  Anjou  which  has  proven  its 
value  to  the  realm,  and  she  deserves  by  her  name,  character 
and  virtues  whatever  favors  the  King  may  shower  upon  her." 

"For  the  moment,  my  lord,  she  asks  for  nothing:  merely 
to  be  defended " 

"Defended?  as  though  such  an  angel  could  have  enemies." 

"An  attempt  has  been  made  to  carry  her  off." 

"Is  it  possible  ?'' 

*'  Some  scoundrel  who  remains  unknown,  but  I  shall  have 
him  sought  for  and  dealt  with  by  my  officers  of  justice." 

The  Duke  of  Almada  did  not  flinch. 

"Hold  it  as  certain,"  he  exclaimed  with  warmth,  "that 
no  one  forms  more  ardent  vows  than  I  do  for  the  punish- 
ment of  the  guilty.  Ah,  if  I  were  half  eighty  years  again,  at 
the  happiest  period  of  life,  when  one  is  no  longer  a  boy  and 
not  yet  in  the  dry  leaf — ah!  to  love,  to  reward  and  to  pun» 
ish — with  one's  own  hand?" 

His  auditor  sighed,  for  the  second  time. 

"That  is  your  Majesty's  time  of  prime,"  said  he,  "though  of 
age  and  death  one  should  not  speak  to  princes,  and  yet  these 
sighs  testify  to  an  alarming  state  of  mind  for  anyone  of  tho 
•pinion  that  jollity  is  the  half  of  health." 

"Duke,  you  are  not  looking  on  a  happy  mam  or  king.1* 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAM  IS.  141 

"When  the  saying  is  'Happy  as  a  king!'  when  from 
that  point  my  august  master  is  ready  to  make  any  sacri- 
fices to  preserve  the  good  graces  of  your  Majesty — it 
must  not  be  as  a  monarch  that  you  have  become  the 
fount  of  sighs — but,  perchance,  as  a  man " 

"The  proverb  you  quote  is  mendacious  like  the  rest. 
One  of  my  citizens  in  Paris  is  happier  than  I.  He  acts 
as  he  pleases." 

"Well, why  should  notyour  Majesty  actas  the  citizensdo? 
when  they  are  tired  of  the  cold  joint  at  home  they  sally  forth 
to  dine  at  the  eating-house.  It  is  true  that  your  Majesty 
may  object  that  he  has  already  tried  dining  out,  and " 

"Duke/'  sharply,  but  the  simile  would  come. 

"If  the  triviality  of  the  simile  offends  your  Majesty,  I 
will  say  plainly  that  I  am  afraid  that  your  Majesty  has  a 
frightful  attack  of  the  blue  devils.  Take  heed,  my  King!" 
said  Aramis, cunningly  seeming  to  return  his  old  allegiance 
at  this  point  of  serving  the  sovereign.  ''The  blue  devils 
are  the  ones  who  tease  one  to  death  if  not  repelled  in 
time,  and  the  only  recourse  is  to  the  prescription  of  Don 
Juan,  who  cured  the  heartache  of  one  donna  by  turning 
to  have  the  heartache  through  another." 

The  hearer  wore  a  guarded  manner. 

"Pardy,  duke!  this  counsel  does  not  smack  of  the 
churchman,  which  once  you  were." 

"Ah,  sire,  the  reason  is  that  before  I  wore  the  mitre,  I 
shaded  my  brow  with  the  red-plumed  hat  of  your  lamented 
Father's  Musketeers.  And  then,  if  your  Majesty  allows 
me  to  babble,  it  is  the  habit  of  men  of  my  age — nathe- 
less,  there  is  good  sense  in  the  babble  of  some  old  men — 
I  am  astonished  at  the  backwardness  about  imitating  the 
citizen,who — disgusted  by  a  servant-maid,  sour,  or  grown 
beyond  tenderness,  or  what  you  will,  goes  and  gets  an- 
other, more  soft  and  accommodating.  Albeit  the  King 
punishes  me  for  this  frankness  in  excess  by  revoking  his 
usual  kindness  so  far  incessantly  shown  me,  I  will  be- 
lieve that  the  Marchioness  de  Montespan  is  the  cause  of 
the  cares  darkening  your  sovereign  brow — it  is  she  who 
by  her  impudence — the  word  is  strong,  but  true — has 
paraded  a  connection  which  her  every  interest  and  her 
gratitude  impressed  her  to  conceal  as  much  as  possi- 
ble. She,  I  say,  has  led  the  Queen — who  has  hither- 
to suffered  in  silence  of  an  incurable  ailment :  loving 


k*2  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OK, 

one  whom  a  whole  realm  adores  but  who  loves  her  n< 

"Duke !" 

"It  is  the  publication  of  this  scandal  which  has  brough' 
upon  your  anointed  head  the  thunders  of  the  preachers *' 

"What,  do  you  know — "  began  the  King,  fingering  his 
canehead  nervously. 

"An  ambassador  is  bound  by  his  office  to  know  everything 
in  the  court  to  which  he  is  accredited.  I  knew  also  that  your 
Majesty  is  on  the  eve  of  parting  with  the  lady,  and  that  it  is 
done  without  regret  on  her  side — for  heaven  lias  endowed 
your  Majesty  with  too  fine  a  perspicacity  for  it  not  to  per- 
ceive that  she  loved  you  less  for  your  sake  than  her  own '* 

"Not  thus,'*  sighed  Louis,  with  melancholy,  "not  thus  was 
I  beloved  by  that  poor  La  Valliere,  and  Fontanges." 

"I  know  not  how  Mdlle.  de  La  Valliere  died,"  said  the 
Spanish  envoy,  as  I  was  not  in  the  pleasant  land  of  France, 
but  as  for  the  guileless  Fontanges,  whom  poison  slew,  because 
he  had  a  love  for  you  without  bounds  or  calculation " 

"Duke,  this  supposition,"  began  the  King,  looking  at  the 
speaker  with  a  kind  of  fright: 

"Sire,  the  legel  axiom,  'who  profits  by  this  crime?'  is  fully 
applicable  here.  But  I  am  not  going  to  have  the  irrever* 
ence  to  insist,  since  in  his  high  wisdom,  the  sovereign  wishes 
night  to  veil  an  atrocity  so  abominable.  I  confine  myself  to 
weeping  over  the  inoffensive,  unavenged  victim." 

"Alas!"  sighed  the  monarch,  shaking  his  head,  "where 
shall  I  find  another  such  as  she?" 

"Do  not  slander  the  sex,  sire,"  quickly  interposed  the  old 
duke,  "thank  heaven,  all  do  not  resemble  the  ambitious  heir- 
ess of  the  Mortemarts.  All  do  not  reign  by  the  ascendancy  of 
a  pitiless  spirit  and  by  the  terror  inspired  by  their  transports 
and  violence.  To  some  exceptions,  love  is  an  entire,  absolute 
and  incessant  sacrifice — a  complete  abnegation  of  self  to 
ihe  gain  of  the  beloved  object.  These  find  all  their  joy  and 
pride  in  seeing  the  first  of  the  king*  of  earth  lay  by  their 
side,  in  shade  and  silence,  the  burden  of  his  grandeur  and 
cares  of  kingship.  In  their  monarch  they  adore  not  ta» 
glory  of  the  crown  or  the  harvest  of  honors  and  favors  uhicn 
crop  up  beneath  his  feet,  but  the  handsome  gentleman  wh* 
kneels  in  passion  and  ardor  to  intoxicate  them  with  caresses, 
They  are  delignted  that  the  sovereign  puts  off,  on  the  thresh- 
oid  of  the  hidden  retreat,  that  supreme  majesty  which  dag 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  143 

«les  the  people.  They  prefer  him  as  he  is — asking  but  nis 
affection  and  conspiring  solely  to  make  him  happy.  Only  too 
happy  .to  be  selected  by  him  from  the  garden  of  flowers,  they 
have  for  him  the  most  shining  face,  the  blandest  smile, 
and  the  most  chaste  heart — resembling  those  vestals  of  the 
Hindoo  temples  who,  in  the  mysterious  gloom,  administer 
to  the  idol  whom  they  are  ever  fated  to  worship." 

The  King's  air  spoke,  as  plainly  as  words  :  "  Continue  !' 
But  the  wily  Aramis  answered  the  mute  invitation  in  this 
sentence:  "Oh,  sire,  I  have  finished  my  sermon,  which  I 
greatly  fear  has  taken  too  long  a  time.  Your  Majesty's 
ministers  will  accuse  me  of  diverting  it  to  the  detriment  of  the 
state  affairs." 

"  There  is  a  time  for  all  things,  and  I  have  still  a  question 
to  put  to  you." 

"  I  am  ever  at  the  orders  of  the  King." 

"  Has  this  young  daughter  of  the  Tremblays  no  kins- 
folk ?" 

"Alas!  she  is  an  orphan,  your  Majesty,  and  it  is  on  this 
deplorable  condition  that  I  wish  to  call  your  benevolent  at- 
tention." 

"I  am  listening  to  you  !" 

"This  ward  of  the  Marchioness  de  Montespan — in  some 
degree  mine,  though  she  has  not  charged  me  to  intervene  in 
her  favor — has  repaired  to  Paris  from  her  province  to  prose- 
cute a  hazardous  lawsuit,  on  the  winning  of  which  de- 
pends her  fortune,  a  pretty  one,  together  with  the  subsist- 
ence of  her  young  brother  and  sister — two  children  so  young 
that  she  stands  towards  them  as  a  little  mother.  Our  Au- 
rore  is  poor  but  proud  beyond  equal,  and  sues  for  nothing. 
Hence  ic  is  I  who  plead  for  her,  thinking  if  some  post  could 
be  given  hert  however  humble,  near  your  august  person,  its 
income  would  eke  out  her  meager  resources." 

"You  have  reasoned  very  well,"  said  the  monarch  gravely, 
as  his  countenance  visibly  cleared.  "At  the  present  mo- 
ment, a  post  of  reader  is  vacant  in  the  Queen's  household* 
which  I  accord  to  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay," 

"Sire,"  returned  the  duke,  bowing,  "one  cannot  stay  bjr 
your  Majesty  any  length  of  time  without  every  instant  aug- 
menting one's  gratitude." 

"Your  ward  may  at  once  enter  upon  her  duties.  I  will 
speak  to  the  Queen  presently  on  the  subject,  from  whom 


144  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

you  shall  hear  her  announce  the  good  news  to  your  interesting 
orphan,  should  you  come  this  evening,  as  I  trust." 

"I  shall  not  think  of  failing,"  replied  the  old  noble,  bow 
ing  again. 

"In  that  case,  keep  well  until  we  meet  this  evening  again, 
my  dear  duke  !" 

At  these  parting  words,  an  ironical  gleam  passed  ovei 
the  arch-plotter's  countenance.  In  the  midst  of  the  doffing 
of  hats  from  the  courtiers  who  had  watched  this  dialogue 
from  a  distance,  and  the  smiles  of  the  ladies,  Aramis  joined 
Boislaurier  whose  arm  he  took  once  more. 

"Well,  my  lord,  have  we  the  point  ?"  asked  the  latter. 

The  old  peer  laughed  with  the  muscles  of  his  mouth  with- 
out making  a  sound,  and  rejoined  :  "In  faith,  I  am  not 
complaining.  The  game  is  as  good  as  won." 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

DEEP  WATERS  RUN  SMOOTH. 

THE  Queen's  cardparty  was  held  in  the  royal  apartment 
occupying  the  south  wing  of  the  palace.  This  hall,  bril- 
liantly illuminated,  was  literally  crammed  with  the  courtiers 
and  ladies.  In  the  midst,  before  a  large  fire  in  the  chimney 
place,  for,  as  a  Spaniard,  she  was  always  chilled,  Queen 
Maria  Theresa  was  sitting  at  a  card-table,  between  her  lad- 
ies, and  engaged  at  her  favorite  pastime.  The  Queen  was 
short  and  stout,  and  when  she  walked  or  danced,  her  knees 
gave  way,  which  still  farther  diminished  her  in  stature  : 
her  teeth  were  spoilt  by  het  excessive  eating  of  sweet  choco- 
late. She  idolized  her  husband,  and  kept  him  in  view  when 
he  was  in  the  same  room,  and  she  would  be  happy  all  the 
day  if  once  he  smiled  on  her.  If  he  were  more  kind  than 
that,  she  would  run  around  to  tell  how  glad  she  was,  to  any- 
body who  would  listen  to  her. 

He  must  have  vexed  her  greatly  to  have  such  a  spaniel 
growl  at  the  favorite  and  hint  of  a  return  to  Spain  unless  the 
marchioness  were  sent  away. 

The  topic  of  the  chatter  was  this  very  retirement  of  the 
favorite — in  the  low  whispers  some  said  "  disgrace"  anrt 


THE  DEATH  OF  A  RAM  IS.  14$ 

"  exile"  not  pretty  words,  while  all  eyes  were  turned  upou 
the  proud  marchioness.      Without  flinching   Jie  supported 
the  weight  of  all  the  stares  :  gay  and  yet  haughtily,  she  pn» 
tied  in  a  group  of  her  faithful  '.  lends,  but  the  Widow  Sca'_ 
ron  had  returned  to  Paris  to  look  after  her  royal  nurselings, 
Aurore  du  Tremblay  was  isolated  h.  <~  window  recess  and 
looked  on  without  seeing,  and  hrardthe  conversation  with-',  t 
out  heeding  it. 

"  The  King  !"  called  out  a  pags, 

The  King  entered  with  his  Minister  Louvois.  Ail  the 
groups  made  a.  movement  to  concentrate  where  the  new  ar-j. 
rival  should  come  to  a  halt:  all  heads  botfed  to  the  sovereign 
and  all  the  women  bent  like  the  tall  sunflowers  to  the  magnifi- 
cent Apollo.  Louis  wore  no  fierce  aspect  on  this  occasion  ; 
his  demeanor  was  rather  contented  and  kindly. 

"  Do  not  let  me  be  a  spoil-sport,"  he  said  to  the  Queei. 
who  made  a  pretence  of  rising.  "  Let  no  one  be  disturbed 
by  me.  I  wish  and  desire  so.  What  vsere  you  saying,  my 
lord  ?"  he  continued,  but  addressing  the  Minister  of  War 
Louvois. 

"  Sire,  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  your  Majesty  that  th>; 
Duke  of  Lorraine  has  thrown  his  forces  into  Freiburg,  where 
he  menaces  our  Alsatian  strongholds,  insufficiently  garri- 
soned, I  am  sorry  to  admit,  as  our  troops  have  not  had  time 
to  cross  the  Rhine  on  their  return  out  of  Flanders " 

The  King  did  not  heed,  for  his  attention  was  traveling 
with  his  gaze  elsewhere;  finally,  discovering  Mdlle.  du  Trem- 
blay, behind  the  marchioness,  to  whom  he  haste.,  ^d  to  make 
a  sign. 

"  Very  well,"  said  he,  interrupting  the  minister,  "  to-mor- 
row in  the  Council,  we  will  remedy  this  evil  which  you  point 
out." 

Meanwhile  the  Queen  had  not  taken  up  the  cards.,  and 
like  the  rest  of  the  assemblage,  who  held  their  breath,  she  • 
waited — some  important  event  was  about  to  take  place. 

In  the  midst  of  this  silence  and  curiosity,  La  Montespan 
detached  herself  from  the  group  formed  by  her  friends.  She 
crossed  the  hall  with  a  measured  step  suiting  her  figure  and 
bearing  of  a  Juno  ,  her  gaze  scanning  the  spectators  with 
the  proud  serenity  of  one  who  despised  enemies,  of  which 
for  three  parts  the  gathering  was  composed.  On  arriving  by 
Jhe  card-table,  and  bending  to  Ma-rig  Theresa  with  a  humility 


146  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

too  deep  not  to   be  ironical,  she   spoke   with  calculated 
slowness  and  contemptuous  tranquility  : 

"Will  your  Majesty  allow  me  to  inform  her  of  my  resolu- 
tion to  leave  the  court  and  retire  into  my  domain  of 
Clagny  ?  in  case  the  Queen  deigns  to  give  her  assent  to  thia 
project  ?" 

Everybody  understood  the  sting  in  this  latter  phrase. 

"My  lady  the  Marchioness,"  replied  the  daughter  of  King 
Philip  IL,  with  fairly  concealed  joy  on  her  face  and  in  her 
tone,  "I  have  no  right  to  prevent  your  desires  being  accom- 
plished. It  is  the  King  who  may  retain  or  grant  you  leave. 
No  doubt  his  Majesty,  whom  you  should  have  consulted  be* 
fore  turning  to  me,  will  have  communicated  his  will  :  what- 
ever it  decided  upon  was  well  decided." 

The  marchioness  courteseyed  again  with  the  same  emo- 
tionless calmness  ;  she  never  lost  her  smile,  which  crushed 
feigned  compassion  and  glutted  hatred.  She  took  a  step  to  re- 
gain her  place,  when  the  Queen  asked  her  to  stay  an  in- 
stant. The  favorite  stopped  with  an  inward  shudder  ;  she 
felt  that  a  stab  was  about  to  be  dealt  to  her. 

"  Mention  has  been  made  to  me,"  proceeded  Maria  Ther- 
esa, "  of  a  noble  orphan  young  lady  whom  you  have  warmly 
recommended  to  his  Majesty's  bounty.  1  mean  to  do 
something  for  her.  Is  this  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  present  ?" 

"She  is  here,"  responded  Louis  with  blundering  eager- 
ness, and  he  pointed  out  Aurore,  who  immediately  became 
the  cynosure  of  all  eyes 

£<  Draw  nearer,  lady,"  said  the  Queen,  and  the  girl  ap- 
proached, in  a  flutter. 

The  marchioness  had  lost  her  color.  She  seemed  to  re- 
coil upon  herself  with  a  view  of  leaping  in  between  Aurore 
•~>)vi  the  sovereign. 

,  •"  Madame,"  faltered  she  in  a  voice  wherein  anger  and  as- 
tonishment struggled.  "Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  needs  no  help, 
£  thank  heaven " 

"From  this  moment,  no  need,"  returned  Maria  Theresa 
COid.y.  "You  are  right,  for,  henceforward  she  belongs  to 
my  household.  She  takes  the  place  left  vacant  by  Mdme. 
dTAi&ueperse,  and  will  be  installed  by  the  Mistress  in  Super- 
intendence  into  that  office  to-morrow." 

The  favorite  did  not  retort,  for  there  is  no  contesting 
with  'ru.c  Queen.  But  her  eyelids  burned  red  amid  the  pal* 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAM'S f.  t& 

lofof  her  visage,  and  through  them  one  barely  perceived 
the  baleful  glance  of  the  bruised  viper. 

In  the  meantime,  Aurore,  however  much  surprised  at  this 
unexpected  boon,  and  tottering  under  the  general  scrutiny, 
bent  the  knee  to  Maria  Theresa,  and  murmured: 

"Oh,  what  have  I  done  to  merit  such  a  favor  ?" 

"Rise,  child."  said  the  Spanishwoman,  holding  out  her 
hand  to  help  her  up,  "and  recover  yourself.  I  have  been 
told  that  your  .ather  left  no  property,  though  he  had  long 
and  faithfully  served  the  realm.  What  I  am  granting,  with 
the  assent  and  from  the  initiative  of  the  King,  is  no  favor, 
as  you  seem  to  believe — but  a  beginning  of  reparation  :  that 
is  all.  Duchess,"  she  went  on.  to  Madame  de  Montausier, 
ber  chief  lady  in  attendance,  "place  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  near 
yourself.  It  is  understood  that  she  is  not  to  quit  you  until  we 
shall  have  lodged  her  in  the  rooms  which  you  will  have  made 
ready  for  her." 

The  Marchioness  de  Montespan  walked  towards  Louis, 
with  her  pupils  shooting  out  the  blueish  flame  which  maybe 
seen  in  the  wild  beasts'  eyes  after  dark.  Her  voice  hissed 
between  her  nearly  closed  teeth,  to  utter  these  words: 

"Well  contrived,  sire — my  compliments  to  you.  But  this. 
is  not  the  last  round  and  I  have  yet  to  play!" 

On  the  royal  face  was  a  surprise  too  great  not  to  be  as- 
sumed fora  purpose. 

"Really,  I  do  not  follow  your  drift,"  he  said;  ''did  you  not 
beg  me  to  look  after  the  welfare  of  this  poor  girl  ?  Am  I  not 
giving  you  satisfaction  when  I  place  her  for  safety  under  my 
roof  and  near  the  Queen?" 

Now,  the  cardplaying  went  on.  Maria  Theresa  smiled, 
though  she  was  losing,  for  she  did  not  know  how  to  cheat  as 
the  ladies  of  quality  did  in  her  day.  In  ail  the  above,  her 
august  master  had  approved  of  her  by  a  sly  glance.  All 
agreed  that  the  slighted  Queen  had  this  time  shown  good 
sense,  dignity  and  energy.  All  likewise  hailed  the  new  read- 
er's beauty,  modesty,  bearing  and  ease  from  frequentation  of 
good  society.  The  general  sentiment  was  friendly  towards 
her. 

Mdme.  de  Montespan  was  shunned,  but  she  was  not  an 
antagonist  whom  one  reverse  defeated  thoroughly.  She 
silenced  her  rage  and  hid  her  spite  under  the  armor  of  he» 
pride. 


£48  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR. 

Meanwhile  the  King,  circling  around  like  a  butterfly,  had 
reached  the  place  where  Aurore  stood — too  unknown  for 
anybody  to  congratulate  her  on  any  pretext. 

"Well,"  he  inquired,  after  saluting  her  with  the  respectful 
courtesy  which  he  lavished  upon  the  sex.  "are  you  satisfied, 
lady?" 

She  stammered  some  words  of  thanks  which  he  interrupted, 

"It  is  not  to  me  you  should  offer  these.  But  to  your  triend 
whose  earnest  entreaty  furnished  me  with  the  means  of  re- 
pairing forgetfulness  which  was  growing  into  a  fault." 

At  the  same  time,  he  stood  aside  and  disclosed  the  ex- 
Bishop  of  Vannes. 

"  The  Chevalier  d'Herblay  !"  ejaculated  Mdlle.  du  Trem- 
lay. 

"  The  Spanish  Ambassador,  the  Duke  of  Almada,"  the 
old  noble  smilingly  corrected  her.  At  the  Golden  Heron,  did 
I  not  promise  you  should  hear  from  me  ?" 

Aurore  looked  at  him  in  astonishment,  murmuring  : 

"It  i?  to  you,  then,  that  I  owe  this  benefit?" 

He  interrupted  her  by  taking  her  hand  with  the  prelate's 
unction  and  kissing  it  with  the  Musketeer's  gallantry. 

"  I  am  your  servant — your  friend,  if  you  deem  me  worthy 
of  the  title — and  your  physician,  as  you  may  remember 
my  experience  on  the  Saumur  highway." 

"  As  though  I  could  forget  !" 

"Well,  it  is  from  that  point  of  view  that  I  forbid  any  trans* 
ports  of  gratitude  at  present.  You  may  make  up  for  it  by- 
and-by  when  I  shall  have  done  for  you  all  that  I  intend." 
He  emphasized  this  pledge  with  an  odd  accent.  Lowering 
his  voice  still  more,  he  concluded  :  "  Meanwhile,  allow  me 
to  ask  a  few  minutes'  hearing — not  here,  or  this  evening— 
a  private  audience — it  cannot  be  dangerous  with  one  of  my 
age  !" 

Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  reflected  briefly  before  she  resolutely 
answered  : 

"My  lord  duke,  I  am  the  more  happy  to  confer  with  you 
from  my  having  an  entreaty  to  address  to  you." 

"Is  this  true  ?" 

"The  generous  support  which  you  have  lent  me  without 
my  knowledge,  and  offer  to  continue,  embolden  me  to  entrust 
to  you  the  secret  which  torments  me  and  the  grief  with  whicfc 
I  am  overburdened." 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAMIS.  149 

It  was  the  duke's  turn  to  look  at  her,  stupefied.  She 
hung  her  head  with  deep  despair. 

"Alas!"  she  sighed,  "amid  these  unexpected  boons  which 
Providence  sends  me,my  soul  is  sad  like  one's  about  to  die." 

"Is  this  possible?" 

"You  can  relieve  me  of  doubt  and  ignorance  which  is 
killing  me." 

"Do  anything  you  like  with  me,  my  dear  child."  Laying 
a  finger  on  his  lips,  he  pursued:  "But,  hush!  this  is  not 
the  place  or  the  time  to  exchange  confidence,  where  they 
are  watching  and  listening.  I  hear/'  he  added,  "that  you 
are  to  stay  with  the  head-Mistress  of  the  Queen's  ladies  un- 
til you  have  your  own  rooms.  The  Queen  does  not  rise  till 
noon,  and  I  will  call  on  you  to-morrow." 

As  he  rose  after  bowing,  a  hand  touched  his  shoulder.  It 
was  the  King's  who  was  returning  after  going  around  the 
room,  and  distributing  those  compliments  which  are 
known  as  "court  holy-water.*' 

"My  lord  duke/'  said  he,  "I  shall  have  something  to  say 
to  you  on  my  leaving  the  State  Council  to-morrow." 

Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  was  installed  in  Montausier  House, 
which  had  a  mean  exterior  but  the  apartments  were  vast, 
handsome  and  nicely  planned.  One  of  the  first  floor  par- 
lors was  given  to  her  to  receive  the  Spanish  Ambassador. 
She  sat  on  the  sofa,  and  her  elbow  rested  on  soft  cush- 
ions as  her  hand  sustained  her  drooping  head.  Her  eyes 
were  burning.  And  yet  it  did  not  seem  that  she  had  cause 
to  fret  or  weep.  In  one  day,  without  efforts,  she  had  won 
the  aim  of  her  life — the  object  of  every  petticoat- wearer 
in  France — royal  favor ! 

A  country  girl,  blended  with  the  herd,  with  no  money 
or  credit,  fighting  with  bad  fortune  for  her  existence  and 
that  of  others  dear  to  her,  she  was  this  day  with  a  footing 
at  court.  Her  post  was  beside  the  Queen;  the  King  had 
given  her  a  welcome;  the  men  bowed  down  to  the  ground  to 
her  and  the  ladies  began  to  be  jealous.  The  whole  appeared 
like  a  dream. 

But  the  acute  suffering  which  pierced  her  heart  was  real 
enough. 

For  a  month  she  had  no  news  of  Joel.  Widow  Scarron 
did  not  tell  her  the  truth.  Made  restless  by  the  strange  dis- 
appearance, the  latter  sent  Honorin  to  the  Blackamoor  Tav- 


ISO  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OK, 

era,  where  the  servant  questioned  the  landlord,  who  related 
how  his  lodger  was  arrested,  and  he  had  not  hidden  the 
cause.  The  royal  governess  knew  too  well  with  what  a 
dreadful  penalty  the  Tribunal  of  Honor  punished  those 
who  infringed  the  edicts.  Louis  XIV.  had  always  shown 
himself  severe  towards  duelists.  She  recoiled  from  the  idea 
of  driving  to  despair — perhaps  to  death,  the  girl  whom  she 
had  brought  back  to  life,  by  telling  her  for  what  fate  the 
Breton  was  reserved. 

Subsequently  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  was  presented  to  the 
Marchioness  de  Montespan.  The  latter  was  admitting  to 
herself  that  her  charms  were  becoming  too  mature  longer 
to  retain  her  royal  lover.  She  planned  to  have  a  voice  in 
the  choice  of  her  successor,  whom  she  hoped  to  make  her 
own  pliant  instrument,  so  that  she  still  would  rule.  Aurore, 
without  relatives,  fortune  or  will  of  her  own,  seemed  to 
her  just  the  obedient  doll  she  looked  for  to  play  the  part. 
Hence  she  had  hastened  to  offer  her  services. 

The  innocent  girl  did  not  suspect  the  design.  She  had 
accepted  with  gratitude  the  favorite's  assistance.  But  the 
sentiments  inspired  by  the  latter  did  not  include  confi- 
dence: hence  she  had  preserved  her  heart's  secret.  She 
wept  for  the  lost  squire,  but  in  concealment. 

Her  meditation  was  broken  by  the  footman,  coming  to 
announce  the  Duke  of  Almada.  The  latter  entered  briskly 
and  with  a  winning  mien  to  take  a  seat  near  the  young 
lady,  who  had  risen  to  receive  him.  He  waved  her  with  his 
hand  to  resume  her  place. 

"  Come,  come,  my  child,"  said  he  paternally:  "  why  is 
such  sorrow  on  your  sweet  face  ?  why  are  your  cheeks  so 
pale  and  your  eyes  so  red?  Yesterday  you  were  blessed  with 
one  of  those  godsends  which  most  women  would  covet." 

*'  My  lord  duke,  I  am  in  distress  because  a  witness  is  lack- 
Tig  to  my  happiness — n  she  hesitated. 

"Why  this  emotion  r"  said  the  nobleman  with  an  encour- 
aging smile.  "  I  have  been  in  holy  orders  and  was  wont 
to  hear  confessions  much  more  painful  than  what  you  may 
have  to  avow  Is  there  any  need  to  tremble  at  undergo- 
ing the  universal  fate  of  being  in  love  r" 

Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  hid  her  face  in  her  hands,  and  mut- 
tered: 

"  Have  you,  indeed,  guessed  ?" 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAM  IS.  151 

"  With  no  need  to  be  a  great  wizard.  I  had  only  to 
watch  on  your  countenance  tne  reflections  from  your  candid 
mind.  Besides,  could  anything  else  happen  in  a  court  full 
of  dazzling  cavaliers,  with  burning  eye  and  winsome  speech?" 

Aurore  shook  her  head. 

"  The  man  dearest  to  me  is  not  a  noble  of  the  court." 

*'  Oh,  then,  it  is  some  friend  of  your  childhood,  or  com- 
panion of  your  youth,  some  kinsman,  perhaps,  whom  you 
left  in  your  province^  of  Anjou  ?" 

Aurore  repeated  her  negative  gesture,  while  the  ambassa« 
dor's  sharp  glance  was  studying  her  under  the  pretence  of 
good  hnmor. 

"In  any  case,"  he  proceeded,  "it  cannot  be  any  lowborn 
fellow.  A  girl  of  your  birth  and  character  does  not  look 
below  her  to  make  one  of  those  selections  which  ruse  a  blush. 
A  Tremblay  never  stoops  to  conquer  a  husband." 

"My  lord  duke,"  quickly  protested  Aurore,  ''M.  Joel  is  a 
nobleman." 

"Joel,"  reiterated  the  duke,  seeming  to  reflect;  'whose 
name  is  this?  methinks  I  have  heard  it  somewhere  before. 
Oh,"  he  exclaimed,  "of  course  !  I  recall  it.  The  young 
gentleman  of  the  Nantes  coach  !  Now,  I  am  quite  at  my  ease, 
after  your  giving  me  such  a  fright.  This  is  not  a  serious 
matter." 

"I  love  him,"  observed  Aurore  firmly. 

"Tut,  tut !  a  girlish  fancy  !  The  youth  does  not  lack 
some  nobility  in  his  style  and  bearing — it  is  a  wayside 
romance,  sketched  out,  but  stopping  at  the  first  chap- 
ter." 

"I  love  him,"  repeated  Aurore. 

"Yes.  I  am  not  ignorant  that  he  defended  you  against  some 
footpad  or  other  and  heaven  forbid  that  I  should  gainsay 
your  feeling  some  gratitude  towards  him  ;  but  lasting  grati- 
tude would  degenerate  into  folly." 

"I  love  him,"  said  the  girl  for  the  third  time,  with  the  sama 
determined  tone  and  face. 

The  churchman  also  assumed  a  severe  mien. 

"Then,"  he  said  coldly,  "you  must  find  the  courage  to  tear 
this  unseemly  passion  from  your  heart.  Everything  at  the 
same  time  commands  you  to  do  so — circumstances,  your  in- 
terest and  future,  and  the  prospects  of  others — even  to  the 
providential  part  which  you  are  called  upon  to  play." 


iS2  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS\  OR, 

"What  do  you  mean?"  exclaimed  the  girl,  revealing  all  her 
astonishment 

"I  say  that  the  good  fortune  befalling  you  yesterday  is  nothing 
to  that  awaiting  you  to-morrow.  In  short,  reality  will  surpass  all 
that  you  may  have  ventured  to  conceive  most  fairy-like  and 
magical  in  your  girlish  dreams — you  will  be  transported  to  the 
threshold  of  our  paradise  or  the  Empyrean  of  the  pagans ' 

"Gracious!"  faltered  she,  "I  cannot  understand " 

"Hearken  to  me,  my  child,  that  all  may  be  clear  unto 
you." 

He  bent  towards  her,  and  speaking  with  studied  slowness  and 
in  a  low  voice,  so  that  she  could  the  better  hear  and  comprehend 
the  sense  and  range  of  his  words,  without  any  of  them  crossing 
the  room  and  being  overheard,  if  by  chance  there  were  listeners — 
he  said: 

"Buried  as  you  may  have  been  in  the  country,  some  rumors 
must  have  reached  you,  so  that  you  cannot  be  unaware  what  part 
was  played  in  the  court  circle  where  you  are  entering,  by  Louis 
de  La  Vallie"re — the  first  love  of  our  fickle  sovereign.  You  like- 
wise cannot  be  ignorant  of  the  position  held  here  at  present  by 
the  Marchioness  de  Monespan,  whose  patronage  you  accept. 
You  must  have  your  opinion  formed  upon  these  two  Egerias  of  a 
prince,  who  beginning  as  a  Tarquin  the  Proud,  wishes  to  end  as 
Numa  the  Wise." 

'It  is  true  that  the  story  has  been  told  me  of  the  former,  and 
how  cruelly  she  expiates  not  having  resisted  her  heart;  as  for  the 
second,  I  accepted  her  services — not  without  repugnance  and 
self-resistance  as  heaven  be  my  witness!  because  I  had  urgent 
need  of  a  shield  of  power  against  a  stranger  who  persecutes  me. 
To  appreciate  their  conduct  is  a  care  that  I  leave  to  their  con- 
science, which  will  awaken  sooner  or  later;  to  the  world  of 
fashion,  their  accomplice;  and  to  history  which  will  judge  them. 
As  a  Christian,  I  pity  them." 

"In  any  event.Jyou  must  admit  that  their  fate  is  worthy  of  envy. 
To  reign  over  a  king;  dispose  with  both  hands  of  his  boons  and 
favors;  to  assure  the  peace  of  Europe,  or  at  pleasure,  unchain 
the  dogs  of  war  upon  the  nations;  inspire  grand  ideas;  lead  to  the 
fulfillment  of  great  deeds." 

"This,  my  lord,  is  the  function  of  the  Queen." 

"If    the     Queen    were     able    to    accomplish    it;    in  the  first 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAM  IS.  153 

place,  she  must  have  her  husband's  love — but  our  King 
never  felt  more  than  esteem  for  his;  policy  united  them 
and  temperament  separates  them." 

"Then  I  feel  no  less  compassion  for  the  lady  neglected 
than  for  her  successful  rivals.  Still,  were  the  choice 
given  me,  I  believe  I  should  prefer  her  loneliness  to  their 
victory — but  I  own  that  I  do  not  see " 

"To  what  I  am  tending?  to  this — the  King  has  had  a 
fresh  passion  spring  up  in  his  heart  within  a  few  hours — " 

"He  has  ceased  to  love  Mdme.  de  Montespan?" 

"He  is  madly  smitten  with  another!" 

"Another?" 

"An  adorable  creature,  who  need  never  dread  the 
fate  of  the  proud  daughter  of  the  Mortemarts,  if  she  will 
listen  to  a  true  friend  and  second  his  views,  in  exchange 
for  a  devotion  above  proof:  she  will  then  realize  the 
problem  of  fixing  an  erratic  star — of  making  a  capricious 
lover  one  of  the  most  faithful " 

The  temper  paused  to  study  on  the  hearer's  counte- 
nance the  effect  of  his  opening  exordium.  She  seemed 
to  be  searching  for  something  in  her  mind. 

"My  lord,  pray  be  indulgent/'  she  muttered;  "I  am 
but  a  poor  country  girl,  and  really  I  wonder  if " 

"What!"  ejaculated  the  plotter,  enjoying  in  advance 
the  surprise  he  had  ready  to  finish  with,  "have  you  not 
understood  that  it  is  you  whom  we  are  talking  about?" 

He  certainly  expected  an  outburst  of  amazement,  real 
or  simulated,  and  was  much  mistaken,  for  the  girl  re- 
mained dumb.  It  was  evident  that  her  intelligence 
refused  to  admit  what  she  heard. 

"Yes,"  said  the  ambassador,  dwelling  on  his  words, 
"it  is  you  whom  his  Majesty  loves,  I  am  offering  you  a 
coronet,  if  not  a  crown,  for  one  word  which,  falling  from 
your  lips,  will  allow  him  to  hope  that  you  will  receive 
the  proof  of  this  love  and  its  disclosure  without  anger." 

Mdlle.  du  Treblay  sprang  up  suddenly. 
"God  help  me!"  she  cried,  "the  King  loves  me?  loves 
me?" 

In  her  eyes  and  her  voice  was  immense  apprehension, and 
she  threw  up  her  arms  in  front  of  her  as  though  to  repulse 
the  words  which  she  had  heard.  Almada  also  rose,  and  he 
laid  his  hands  on  her  shoulder  with  familiar  authority. 


154  THE  SON  OP  PORTHOS;  OR, 

"Calm  yourself,  child,"  he  said.  "You  hare  a  superiot 
mind  as  I  have  a  practical  one.  Do  not  let  us  waste  time 
which  we  may  turn  to  a  better  purpose.  Therefore,  I  hasten 
to  play  aboveboard.  The  Company  of  Jesus,  of  which  I  am 
the  General,  means  to  preside  in  the  Royal  Council  and 
direct  its  policy.  Help  us  thoroughly  and  we  will  sustain 
you  to  the  utmost  limits.  Would  you  like  to  govern  France 
with  us?  I  leave  you  the  solid  part  of  the  realm  ami  tne  bet- 
ter task — to  do  good  where  others  have  only  done  ill.  If  you 
were  an  ordinary  woman,  I  should  picture  to  you  the  court 
prostrated  at  your  feet,  the  dazzling  of  festivals,  the  con- 
cert of  homage,  and  the  incense  rising  for  you  to  share 
with  the  demi-god  whom  Europe  considers  as  arbiter  of  its 
destinies.  But  you  are  as  good  as  fair,  and  I  simply  say 
unto  you — So  far  the  people  have  cursed  the  favorites  who 
preceded  you;  Let  them  learn  to  bless  you." 

Aramis  stopped  again,  not  of  his  own  accord,  but  from  the 
effect  of  his  words.  A  burning  glare  blazed  in  his  auditress's 
eyes.  A  purple  flush  mounted  to  her  cheeks,  while  she  opened 
her  mouth  to  speak.  But  the  words,  though  scathing  her 
lips,  were  not  uttered.  Her  eyelids  fell  like  veils  over  the 
.lightning  glance,  and  she  became  calm  again.  She  gently 
disengaged  herself  from  the  old  noble's  grip,  and  proceeded 
towards  the  door. 

"Where  are  you  going  ?"  inquired  the  other. 

"To  quit  this  house,"  was  her  curt  answer  in  a  broken 
voice  ;  "  I  leave  the  town,  too,  for  return  to  my  native  village 
in  Anjou,  where  the  peasants  have  not  yet  learnt  to  cease 
to  respect  the  daughter  of  their  old  master." 

"Going  away  ?  but  this  is  madness  !  After  what  you  have 
heard  ?" 

*'It  is  precisely  what  I  heard  that  commands  me  to  remain 
not  another  instant  in  a  place  where  I  have  been. insulted. 
Oh,  I  do  not  care  to  hurt  your  feelings — I  am  not  one  who 
repays  insult  in  the  same  coin.  Besides,  I  am  firmly  per- 
suaded that  you  did  not  believe  you  were  insulting  me.  That 
is  credible  enough  ;  for  the  world  in  which  you  dwe.I  and 
in  which  I  entered  yesterday,  regards  as  a  glory  what  I  call 
a  shame.  I  was  alone  and  moneyless,  and  you  offered  me 
the  means  to  become  rich  and  mighty.  This  is  great  kind* 
ness  on  your  part,  and  I  must  beg  your  pardon  for  not  be- 
ing on  the  level  of  the  task  which  you  deemed  me  worthy  to 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  \  55 

aceomplisn.  Row  could  things  be  otherwise  when  I  am  a 
Puritan,  with  odd  ideas  about  honor.  I  should  rather  fall 
dead  on  the  side  of  the  ditch,  clad  in  tatters,  with  the  beggar's 
wallet  slung  round  my  neck,  than  be  satiated  with  royal  favor 
and  endearments,  in  the  glitter  of  jewels,  rank  and  fortune. 
I  should  mar  your  court  with  my  foolish  prejudies:  humiliate  it 
it  with  my  siily  pride;  slight  it  in  my  ridiculous  innocence. 
This  is  why  I  doom  myself  to  blight,  obscurity  and  poverty; 
why  I  do  not  even  await  the  issue  of  the  lawsuit  in  which 
I  am  engaged  and  which  I  feel  that  I  am  incapable  of  win- 
ning in  the  usual  way  ;  why  I  accept  for  my  dear  ones  the 
poverty  which  blemishes  my  father's  name,  but  which,  at 
the  worst,  will  not  stain  our  family  blason.  Farewell,  my 
lord  duke.  We  are  never  to  meet  again.  In  the  retreat  where 
I  shall  live  between  labor  and  prayer,  I  promise  to  remem- 
ber you  only  from  our  first  meeting,  and  I  shall  force  my- 
self to  forget  how  badly  a  nobleman  mistook  me  and  in- 
sulted me  as  the  King  himself  has  no  right  to  do.  For, 
granting  that  he  loved  me,  at  least,  he  did  not  offend  me 
by  proposing  I  should  be  his  mistress." 

While  Aurore  was  speaking  in  this  high  and  noble  strain, 
Aramis  was  reflecting.  When  he  had  fully  meditated,  his 
new  batteries  were  in  line.  He  was  now  a  more  dangerous 
plotter  than  when  he  conceived  to  substitute  one  royal  brother 
for  another  at  Vaux.  When  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  walked 
with  a  statue's  step  up  to  the  door,  she  found  he  had  glided 
in  between  and  a  complete  change  had  taken  place  on  the 
duke's  countenance.  Tears  moistened  his  eyes;  his  linea- 
ments expressed  a  joyous  emotion  without  equal  ;  his  voice 
quivered  as  he  said,  in  turning  to  the  girl  with  a  supplicating 
gesture: 

"Oh,  my  child,  my  dear  child,  how  happy  you  have  made 
me.  How  greatly  I  admire  you  !  How  great  is  my  love  and 
my  estee'm  !" 

Before  such  a  brusque  outburst,  Aurore  receded  and  ut- 
tered not  a  syllable,  but  her  face  was  eloquent  in  its  profound 
amaze. 

"To  think  that  I  was  on  the  verge  of  doubting  you.  Yes 
I  doubted  you — I  confess — but  only  for  a  space.  I  feared 
that  you  would  succumb  beneath  the  test." 

"Test?  was  that  a  test?"  almost  screamed  the  girl. 

Aramis  lowered  his  head  with  a  chagrined  air,  and  replied 
in  a  reproachful  tone: 


156  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

"Did  yon  not  suspect  it?  true,  true,  I  went  too  for — much 
too  far!  But  I  wished  to  know  the  whole."  He  took  her  by 
Mne  hand  and  led  her  to  the  sofa.  "  I  vowed  to  ascertain 
what  you  might  secret.  And  what  have  I  met  but  the  purest 
honor,  and  all  that  embellishes  and  sanctifies  the  heart  of 
woman?" 

Aurore  was  still  repeating:  "A  test?"  for  she  distrusted 
yet.  "So,"  she  said  slowly,  "what  you  said  but  now " 

"That  was  mere  fable,  of  which  I  beg  you  no  more  to 
think " 

"The  King " 

"The  King  holds  no  other  feelings  towards  you  than  any 
gallant  gentleman  may  declare  to  any  honorable  girl — and 
he  is  now  casting  off  the  Marchioness  de  Mor.tespan 
solely  to  be  disentangled  as  regards  the  Queen.  Alas!"  he 
went  on,  with  a  sad  shaking  of  the  head,  "  this  furnace,  the 
court,  into  whose  hot  breath  you  have  but  stepped,  musl 
quickly  and  fatally  sear  the  finest  minds,  for  you  to  believo 
that  an  old  man  with  white  hair  like  me,  a  nobleman  by  win* 
ning  his  spurs  on  the  battlefield  and  by  his  descent,  the  rep« 
resentative  of  a  great  power  and  an  illustrious  sovereign, 
I,  in  short,  2  was  capable  of  descending  to  pander  even  for 
a  King!" 

"My  lord?" 

"  Oh,  cruel,  unjust  and  wicked:  how  you  on  your  side 
imistook  me!  But  how  sharply  you  have  punished  me  by 
putting  faith  in  a  ruse  of  which  I  had  not  foreseen  the  ef- 
fects!" Again  his  tone  and  expression  altered,  while  he 
added  with  a  touch  of  vanity  admirably  assumed:  "I  grant 
that  I  played  my  trick  with  art.  Condemn  me  if  you  will) 
but  own  that  you  were  my  dupe. " 

She  laid  a  hand  on  her  heart. 

"I  was  caused  much  pain,"  she  sighed. 

"Still  again,"  he  said,  drawing  her  to  him  with  a  fatherly 
action,  "overlook  this.  It  was  that  deuced  professional  pride 
of  ours.  We  diplomatists  fall  into  such  a  habit  of  deceiving 
and  feigning " 

In  the  pause,  the  duke  secretly  observed  the  girl.  At  the 
end  of  a  minute,  she  raised  her  lovely,  clear  and  ingenuous 
eyes  and  questioned: 

"Why  was  this  test  made?" 

The  ex-Musketeer's  teeth  were  impressed  on  his  lip. 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS*  157 

"Why  did  you  play  this  comedy?"  persisted  Aurore,  "Why 
put  yourself  to  so  much  trouble  ?  Why  cause  me  so  much 
pain?" 

In  the  time  it  took'  her  to  frame  the  questions,  he  had. 
shaped  his  reply. 

''Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  you  do  not  guess?"  She 
shook  her  head.  "What,  you  have  not  reflected  that  the 
righteous  aim  I  had,  justified  my  plan  ?  It  was  necessary 
for  the  Queen's  future  peace  that  she  should  not  again  har- 
bor a  viper  at  her  side.  How  many  innocent-seeming  intrig- 
uantes have  sought  to  mount  into  tne  royal  favor  by  first  ob- 
taining a  hold  in  the  Queen's  service?  these  would  have  thrown 
aside  the  devoted  lover  who  was  of  lowly  birth  compared 
with  the  ruler  of  France:  but  you  on  the  contrary  trample 
on  everything  between  you  and  the  object  of  the  great  and 
holy  love  filling  your  heart.  I  was  in  my  right  in  asking  if 
in  uniting  you  to  that  object,  I  should  not  expose  myself  to 
hearing  you  reproach  me  some  day  for  having  been  the  key- 
stone of  your  happiness,  if  not  of  your  golden  fortune.  And 
he  whom  you  choose  will  share  your  scruples.  He  may  be 
one  who  shrinks  lest  you  blame  him  for  the  humility  of  hie 
line  being  an  obstacle  to  your  rising  with  him  to  where  you 
are  lawfully  free  to  aspire — your  longings  are  legitimate  for 
luxury,  fame  and  grandeur.  Thus  thinking,  I  tried  to  tempt 
you,  and  the  experiment  has  fully  succeeded,  at  least.  You 
have  refused  a  throne  to  keep  yourself  for  the  man  of  your 
heart.  Wnat  more  convincing  proof  can  I  desire  of  an  affec- 
tion and  a  disinterestedness  which  nothing  in  the  future  can 
have  the  power  to  weaken?" 

The  girl's  charming  features  had  at  length  brightened 
Her  youthful  beauty  seemed  to  send  out  rays. 

"My  lord,"  she  faltered,  "you  are  speaking  of  Joel." 

"Why,  of  whom  else  was  I  to  speak  save  the  lucky  dog  who 
has  the  inestimable  chance  of  being  distinguished  by  such 
a  treasure  ?"  rejoined  the  old  duke,  with  liveliness. 

"  Do  you  know,  then,  what  has  become  of  him  all  this 
month  ?" 

"Do  I  know  ?" 

Truth  obliges  us  to  admit  that  Aramis  did  not  have  the 
faintest  clue  ;  but  a  diplomatist  of  his  mark  ought  never  t« 
be  caught  napping. 

"¥on  have  seen  him  ?"  inquired  Mdlle.  du  Trernblay. 


158  THE  SON  OF  PURTHOS /  OR, 

"  As  you  will  see  him  before  a  great  while.  But,"  kv 
added  guardedly,  "you  must  ask  him  for  the  explanation  of 
his  mysterious  absence." 

"Will  he  come  to  St.  Germain?" 

"Of  course,"  replied  the  duke,  with  a  goodnatured  smile, 
"he  will  be  forced  to  come,  unless  you  want  to  have  the  wed- 
ding celebrated  in  another  place." 

"Wedding?" 

"That  follows  since  I  told  you  I  had  made  up  my  mind  to 
make  you  both  happy." 

Aurore  fixed  on  him  a  steady  gaze. 

"Has  M.  Joel  found  what  he  was  seeking,  then  ?"  she 
inquired- 

This  was  not  a  question  for  which  Almada  was  prepared 
and  he  was  disconcerted  ;  he  mused  :  "Wuat  on  earth  was 
the  young  rogue  seeking  for  ?"  But  he  was  obliged  to  reply, 
and  do  so  at  once,  as  the  girl's  eyes  were  imperiously  ques- 
tioning him.  "He  has  found  it?"  he  said  with  assurance.  "But 
not  without  pains,  and  the  task  took  time." 

"But  you  aided  him,  I  will  engage  ?"  proceeded  the  other 
with  a  sincere  flow  of  thankfulness. 

"Oh,  you  inquisitive  child!"  he  retorted,  shaking  a  finger 
at  her.  "  Nothing  can  be  hidden  from  her.  Well,  yes, 
I  aided  him  witn  all  my  power." 

She  held  out  her  hand. 

"  How  I  thank  you  if,  with  heaven's  help,  Joel  has  found 
a  name  ?" 

"  Oho!"  thought  the  ex-prelate,  "It  is  a  name  he  is  after? 
Our  loving  swain  has  come  to  find  or  make  a  name  in  Paris. 
Well,  let  us  give  him  one  for  a  present,  whicu  will  rob  no 
one — A  name  ?"  he  exclaimed,  "  A  title  more  like — Cheva- 
lier de  Locmaria!  That  sounds  rondly  and  looks  right,  as 
he  comes  from  Belle-Isle,  where  I  had  reason  to  remember 
Locmaria,  one  of  my  parishes.  And — "  here  a  cloud  passed 
over  his  brow,  "  was  it  not  in  one  of  its  sea-graven  caves 
that  my  poor  Porthos  died  ?" 

He  looked  so  serious  that  she  forbore  to  speak,  but,  recov- 
ering, he  said  : 

"But  I  am  wishful  to  leave  your  betrothed  the  pleasure  of 
relating  all  that  has  happened  to  him  since  your  parting. 
The  chevalier  will  be  beside  you  in  a  few  days  ;  for  it  is  a 
settled  thing  that  you  will  remain  at  court  ?"  Bui  Aurore'* 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAM  IS.  459 

face  wore  alarm  and  repugnance,  and  he  persisted:  "You 
must,  my  child.  The  Queen  has  much  need  of  one  like  you. 
The  poor  iady  has  not  a  soul  near  her  to  whom  she  can  con- 
fide her  woes  and  have  them  shared.  The  friendship  which 
she  will  inevitably  accord  you  and  the  very  high  esteem  in 
which  the  King  holds  you,  will  help  you  to  a  reconciliation 
of  the  couple  which  all  desire  and  which  will  be  a  benefit  to 
the  state." 

"My  lord,  I  shall  remain." 

"Ere  long,  besides  you  will  rest  on  a  husband's  arm  I  will 
do  my  utmost  to  obtain  from  both  their  Majesties  the  consent 
to  your  union.  They  will  feel  pleasure  in  signing  the  con- 
tract as  witnesses,  and  as  a  kind  of  wedding  present,  I  war- 
rant the  Chevalier  of  Locmaria  will  receive  some  rank  which 
will  allow  him  to  be  near  you.  But,"  he  went  on,  looking  at  his 
watch,  "the  hour  is  striking  for  you  to  go  on  duty,  and  I 
myself  have  an  appointment  with  the  King  on  his  leaving  the 
Council-room^  Let  us  part,  my  dear  Aurore." 

She  held  up  her  forehead  which  he  lightly  kissed,  murmur- 
ing "I  might  easily  be  your  grandfather  !"  At  the  thresh- 
old, he  called:  You  will  shortly  see  me.  With  him !  Mean- 
while, be  so  kind  as  not  to  forget  me  in  your  prayers." 

"Be  sure  of  that,  my  good  lord,"  returned  the  girl.  "In 
my  heart  you  have  a  place  like  God  and  Joel." 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

MAKING  A  KNIGHT  OF  HIM. 

IN  the  renovation  of  St.  Germain's  by  the  famous  Mansard, 
fa  covered  way  around  the  building  was  replaced  by  a  veran- 
dah, which  was  called  the  Gallery.  Here,  on  coming  from 
the  Council  of  State,  Louis  XIV.  was  accustomed  to  receive 
applicants  for  favors  and  those  for  whom  he  had  communica- 
ions.  Here  Almada  proceeded  after  quitting  our  heroine. 

On  the  way  from  Montausier  House  to  the  palace,  the  old 
duke  distributed  to  the  passers-by  all  sorts  of  nods  and 
smiles  and  caresses  with  the  hand,  which  betrayed  the  for- 
mer cnurch  dignitary.  Nobody  would  have  suspected  the 


i6o  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

turmoil  in  his  brain  and  the  mental  labor  he  underwent,,  to 
see  his  smiling  mien,  the  gallant  and  yet  guarded  looks  at 
the  pretty  women,  and  the  exquisite  art  with  which  he  gradu- 
ated the  marks  of  politeness  according  to  the  rank  of  those 
he  met. 

"This  Joel  must  be  found  again,"  he  mused  as  he  strolled 
in  the  sunshine  in  order  to  warm  himself.  "I  have  promised 
her  so.  It  is  tiie  sole  means  to  save  the  situation  of  affairs 
bungled  by  the  monstrous  innocence  of  this  young  girl  whom 
I  have  arrived  in  time  to  place  in  the  contest  for  the  favor- 
ite's vacated  post.  This  must  be  done  to  retain  this  virgin  at 
the  court,  for  it  is  highly  necessary  that  she  should  not  leave 
St.  Germain.  It  is  certain  that  the  King  cherishes  her  under 
his  heart-wing,  and  I  will  put  my  hands  in  the  fire  if  he  has  not 
asked  me  hither  this  morning  to  speak  to  me  about  her.  Yes, 
but  where  am  I  to  unearth  this  young  rustic?  He  will  hamper 
my  projects  and,  absent,  he  may  upset  them.  Just  think 
that  I  believed  I  knew  all  about  the  softer  sex  from  having 
half-a-century's  experience  with  them,  and  this  one  non- 
plusses  me.  By  Jove  !  as  I  used  to  swear  when  I  wore  a 
•word  by  my  side,  to  see  me  beaten  by  a  silly  maid's  scruples 
—I,  who  was  the  lover  of  that  whirlwind  in  a  fardingale  called 
the  Duchess  de  Chevreuse;  the  confidential  friend  o( 
Queen  Anne  of  Austria  in  her  amour  with  the  Duke  of 
Buckingham  :  the  dashing,  lady-killing  Musketeer  ;  the 
priest-confessor  of  a  bevy  of  fashionable  penitents  ;  the  be- 
holder, if  not  the  actor,  of  all  the  merry  intrigues  which 
enlivened  the  end  of  the  last  reign  and  the  beginning  of  this. 
It  is  true  that  I  never  met  any  such  squeamishness  in  the 
Duchess,  or  the  Queen,  or  Mazarin,  or  my  penitents,  or 
Fouquet's  lady-loves,  or  the  early  love-conquests  of  this 
King.  All  the  same,  a  philosopher — it  might  be  me — was 
very  right  in  saying  that  woman  is  capable  of  anything — even 
of  doing  good  and  acting  well." 

On  entering  the  Gallery,  the  first  persons  whom  the  Spanish 
Ambassador  caught  sight  of  was  Lord  Nicholas  de  Lareynie, 
Lieutenant  General  of  the  Royal  Police.  Under  his  arm  was 
a  large  portfolio,  stuffed  with  papers  of  all  kinds.  The  new 
comer  walked  up  to  him,  and  said  after  the  exchange  of  the 
usual  courtesies  : 

"  Bear  my  lord,  since  you  are  the  man  who  best  knows 
•Ycrything;  going  on  in  the  capital,  pray  try  to  enlighten  m» 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  161 

tin  tke  fate  of  a  fine  young  fellow,  who  much  interests  me, 
and  who  has  been  missing  this  month." 

"  My  lord  duke,  I  am  devotedly  yours." 

"  This  youth  has  lately  arrived  from  his  province  of 
Brittany.  From  Belle-Isle,  if  I  am  rightly  informed  :  honest 
of  face,  costume  of  his  country,  the  figure  and  bearing  of  a 
young  athlete.  As  a  special  token,  the  longest  sword  by 
his  side  that  any  living  man  wears — I  never  but  once  saw- 
its  mate." 

"  Oho  !"  exclaimed  the  magistrate,  starting  with  surprise 
K  this  succinct  portrait  puts  me  in  mind  of  an  acquaintance. 
I  declare,  it  would  be  odd  if  you  were  seeking  the  very  man 
of  whom  I  came  to  confer  with  his  Majesty.  He  had  fists 
to  knock  down  a  wall,  eh  ?" 

"That  agrees." 

"He  answers  to  the  name  of  Joel,  too?'' 

It  was  now  the  duke's  turn  to  be  astonished. 

*'Joel — it  is  so.     Do  you  know  where  he  is  ?" 

"He  is  in  the  Bastille,  of  course." 

"In  the  Bastille  ?" 

"In  proof  of  which,  I  have  had  the  governor's  deputy  ask- 
ing me  in  what  style  he  is  to  be  treated.  You  may  not  be 
unaware,  duke,  that  at  the  Bastille,  each  prisoner  receives 
fare  and  accommodation  occording  to  his  position,  quality, 
fortune  and  the  private  instruction  sent  with  his  committal 
warrant  by  the  head  of  the  realm." 

The  old  friend  of  the  late  Bastille  Governor,  Montlezun. 
did  know  this  from  afar  back  ;  so,  interrupting  the  Police 
Lieutenant,  he  asked : 

"But  why  was  the  poor  lad  clapped  into  jail  ?" 

"A  very  bad  case,"  answered  Lareynie,  scratching  his  wig 
with  an  ivory  back-scratcher  carved  into  the  semblance  of 
an  open  hand,  as  was  the  fashion  ;  "violation  of  the  edicts, 
a  duel  ending  in  a  man's  death — this  poor  lad,  as  you  call 
him,  in  plain,  ran  a  Musketeer  officer  through  the  body." 

"Heaven  fotbid  3" 

"As  a  matter  of  course,  lie  was  arrested,  and  the  constab- 
ulary opened  an  inquest  on  the  matter  ;  but  as  he  could 
not  supply  proofs  that  he  was  nobly  born,  these  judges  of 
points  of  honor  would  not  derogate  to  try  him,  and  we  are 
all  in  a  quandary.  In  what  court  is  he  to  be  tried?  I  have 
come  to  have  his  Majesty's  idea  on  the  subject1* 


ifia  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

As  he  spoke  the  functionary  drew  from  his  letter-caie  a 
sheet  of  parchment  written  with  a  wide  margin  and  inscrib- 
ed for  a  heading  :  "  Report  for  H.  M.  the  King  ?"  He  hand- 
ed  this  document  to  the  duke,  saying  :  "  Do  you  mind, 
while  we  are  waiting,  taking  a  look  over  it  ?" 

Aramis  had  no  objections.  Thus  he  knew  to  a  jot  all 
that  had  befallen  our  hero.  He  had  finished  when  the  King 
came  out  of  his  closet,  with  an  air  of  good  humor.  On  his 
entering  the  Gallery,  Lareynie  started  to  hand  him  the  re- 
port on  the  Joel  Case,  which  the  ambassador  had  returned 
to  him;  but  the  monarch,  who  had  perceived  his  companion, 
said  :  "  Presently,  my  lieutenant,"  and  taking  the  envoy  of 
Spain  by  the  arm,  he  observed  ;  "  I  am  obliged  to  you  for 
keeping  the  appointment." 

*'  Oh,  sire,"  rejoined  the  old  courtier,  making  as  supple  as 
it  was  noble  a  bow,  "  the  wishes  of  the  sovereign  are  orders 
to  me.  Moreover,"  he  added,  after  a  pause,  "  if  your  Ma- 
jesty had  not  deigned  to  evince  his  intention  of  meeting  me 
this  morning,  I  should  nevertheless  have  waited  to  see  him 
come  by — having  accepted  from  him  the  office  to  offer  hom- 
age to  which  I  venture  to  hope  the  recipient  will  not  show 
hers  altogether  insensible." 

"  Homage  ?" 

"  I  mean  by  that  !  to  bear  to  her  the  expression  of  feel- 
ings with  which  overflows  towards  him  the  most  sincere 
and  grateful  of  hearts."' 

The  ruler's  cheeks  were  covered  with  bright  red,  and  his 
eyes  sparkled  with  deep  satisfaction. 

"  Ah,  you  have  seen  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  ?"  he  greedily  in- 
quired. 

"  I  have  just  left  her,"  replied  the  diplomatist,  smiling  to 
himself  at  having  so  swiftly  guessed  how  things  stood. 

"  Then,  she  does  not  seem  very  much  displeased  with  her 
new  position  ?" 

"  Ah,  sire,  it  is  more  than  gratitude  which  she  professes 
towards  your  Majesty,  but  adoration,  poorly  constrained  by 
the  bounds  of  respect  owed  by  the  subject  to  her  sovereign. 
Yesterday  she  was  stunned  and  abashed.  Think  how  little 
she  expected  the  signal  favor  of  which  she  was  the  object  ! 
And  then  her  heart's  transports  were  paralysed  by  the  un- 
ion of  gladness,  perplexity,  amazsment,  and  confusion  be- 
fore the  King  and  the  Queen,  and  the  whole  court  whose 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAMIS.  163 

bold  curiosity,  in  way  of  speaking,  distracted  her.  But, 
this  morning,  after  a  night  passed  in  fever  from  intoxication, 
almost  incredulity,  with  what  eloquence  has  she  spoken  of 
her  august  benefactor  !  with  what  ardor  she  declared  to  me 
her  devotion  to  her  royal  mistress  and  her  worship  for  her 
master  !  with  what  emotion ful  and  passionate  accents  she 
repeated  to  me  on  my  leaving  :  '  Oh,  my  lord  duke,  the 
King  is  the  most  generous  as  he  is  the  most  noble  of  his 
gentlemen  in  the  kingdom.' 

"Did  she  really  hold  this  language  ?"  interrogated  Louis^ 
his  voice  trembling  with  pleasure. 

"And  as  I  merely  asked  her  what  had  most  struck  heria 
the  brilliant  assemblage  which  she  saw  for  the  first  time  yes- 
terday, you  should  have  known  with  what  freedom  and  sim- 
plicity she  responded:  'Do  not  question  me,  for  I  do  not 
know  how  to  answer.  I  saw  none  but  the  King,  and  I  am 
dazzled  like  the  rash  creature  who  looks  up  at  the  sun.'  " 

These  words  were  too  much  like  those  which  poor  Louise 
de  la  Valliere  uttered,  in  the  hearing  of  the  King,  twenty 
years  before,  under  the  Royal  Oak  at  Fontainebleau,  for 
the  hearer  not  to  recall  that  scene.  All  the  sweet  savor  of 
youth  returned  with  its  freshness  and  sharpness,  though 
saddening,  like  the  scent  from  a  flower  found  dried  in  a  book. 
But  the  memory  was  sufficiently  strong. 

"For  this  girl  is  chasteness  itself"  pursued  Almada. 
"Her  soul  knows  no  more  of  falsehood  than  her  lips.  It  is 
one  detached  from  all  earthly  lust,  the  sanctuary  of  all  lofty 
aspirations  and  sublime  devotion.  Those  lips  are  as  strange 
to  coquetry  as  to  kisses." 

In  hearing  the  ambassador,  the  "Grand  Alcander,"  was 
intoxicated  with  ambrosia.  This  affection,  mingled  with  re- 
spect and  a  dread  that  made  the  woman  prostrate  herself  be- 
fore its  object,  was  a  dish  of  spice  for  one.  who  liked  rare  del- 
icacies. What  flattery  could  equal,  in  his  eyes,  the  being 
taken  for  a  demi-god  ?  But  as  he  strove  above  all  to  seem  to 
be  beyond  human  weakness,  he  forced  himself  to  dissimu- 
late under  a  mask  of  ordinary  pleasure  the  joy  and  pride 
which  lifted  him  to  the  seventh  heaven. 

"My  lord,"  he  resumed  after  a  short  silence,  "it  was  pre- 
cisely of  Mdlle.  duTrembly  that  I  waited  to  speak  with  you. 
£>he  belongs  to  a  family  of  faithful  servants  whom  we  have 
wrongfully  neglected  for  some  time.  Were  the  members- 


eft*  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOSj  OX, 

still  on  earth,  rewards  in  proportion  to  their  services  should 
certainly  seek  the  obscurity  into  which  their  modesty  re- 
tained them  until  their  death.  In  ihe  child  we  shall  repair 
the  involuntary  harm  caused  her  parents  by  our  ungrateful 
forgetfulness.  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  shall  be  a  Lady  of  the  new 
Palace." 

"But,  sire,  the  rule  is  that  the  husband  shall  be  the  wear- 
er of  the  honors  which  carry  this  title,"  remonstrated  the 
ex-prelate. 

"We  will  select  a  husband  worthy  of  our  royal  ward,  and 
we  count  upon  your  excellence  to  aid  us  in  this  act" 

"Oh,  sire,  how  your  Majesty  divines  and  thoroughly  carriet 
out  one's  wishes!  I  was  proposing  to  lead  the  King's  solic- 
itude upon  the  isolated  state  of  this  poor  girl  !  it  wat 
*iy  design  to  supplicate  my  prince  to  give  her  a  protector 
ind  place  her  in  a  family." 

"This  is  what  we  shall  do  ;  we  charge  you  to  find  among 
•bur  nobility  some  gentleman  who  merits  obtaining  such  a 
treasure,  and  in  the  wedding  presents  shall  be  a  title  for  the 
thosen  one  to  some  post  in  our  household." 

The  ambassador  smiled  as  he  replied:  "There  is  no  need 
for  me  to  exhaust  my  power  of  research  to  find  this  privi- 
leged person,  as  I  have  at  hand  a  young  friend  who  will  es- 
teem himself  only  too  happy  to  unite  his  fate  with  the  amia- 
ble lady's  whom  your  Majesty  honors  with  his  bounty.  Ii 
is  a  Breton  gentleman  without  ambition  as  without  attach- 
ments." 

"What  is  his  name?" 

"It  is  the  Chevalief  de  Locmaria,  if  your  Majesty  will  al- 
low him  to  wear  that  title." 

"He  shall  be  the  Chevalier  de  Locmaria." 

"Only,  I  am  not  going  to  conceal  from  your  Majesty  that 
he  has  a  wild  and  primitive  character,  abrupt  and  rough,  badly 
suited  for  life  in  the  court,  and  I  daresay  he  would  prefer 
to  make  his  way  in  the  army." 

"Let  that  be  so,  too — he  shall  have  an  officership." 

"And  if  there  were  fighting  going  on,  he  would  gladly  be 
sent  to  the  front." 

"Well,  we  will  send  him  to  Marshal  Cre*qui,  who  is  to  oper- 
ate against  Prince  Charles  of  Lorraine  and  Freiburg." 

"Good!  he  will  be  pleased.  I  know  my  Breton,  who  is  a 
lover  of  battle  and  hungry  for  danger  and  glory.  All  h* 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  165 

longs  for  is  a  chance  to  distinguish  himself  before  the  en- 
emy and  he  will  not  shrink  from  the  forlorn  hopes  and  other 
desperate  movements  entrusted  to  daring  spirits  who  carry 
their  lite  in  their  hands."  He  laughed  like  a  funeral  kneel, 
faintly  heard.  "But  who  can  help  a  young  daredevil  becom- 
ing a  hero  at  the  cost  of  his  life?"  He  paused,  but  he  said 
ill  that  was  necessary. 

The  two  had  returned  to  the  part  of  the  Gallery  whence 
they  started,  and  Lareynie  was  patiently  wailing,  with  his 
portfolio  under  his  arm  and  the  report  in  his  hand. 

"Sire,"  remarkd  Almada,  "  your  Police  Lieutenant  is 
waiting  for  the  proper  moment  to  have  an  audience  granted, 
and  I  should  feel  ashamed  to  retain  the  King  any  longer." 

"Ah,"  said  Louis,  glancing  at  the  scroll  held  out  to  him, 
'*  This  relates  to  that  daring  duelist  who  draws  his  sword 
under  our  very  windows.  A  bold  rogue,  by  my  faith!  How 
is  it  he  has  not  yet  been  tried  ?" 

The  Spanish  Ambassador  interrupted  Lareynie,  about  to 
reply.  "  Sire,  it  is  long  been  said  that  clemency  is  the 
brigntest  jewel  of  monarchs  as  the  right  to  pardon  is  their 
finest  appanage." 

"On  my  soul,  duke,"  said  the  King,  eyeing  him  with  aston- 
ishment, "I  like  to  think  that  you  will  not  intervene  on  be- 
half of  this  bully " 

"I  venture  upon  this  piece  of  audacity." 

"You  are  going  to  ask  me  the  pardon  of  this  rebel  ?" 

*'I  beg  more  than  that — his  immediate  setting  at  liberty." 

"But  a  duelist  is  a  murderer  !" 

"Hence  I  apply  to  the  royal  generosity,  not  to  mercy." 

"Do  think  what  you  are  doing,"  said  the  King,  stiffening 
his  bearing  and  tone.  "Put  the  fellow  at  liberty  who  has 
trampled  on  our  signature  at  the  foot  of  the  edicts — killed 
one  of  our  military  servants — and  has  not  even  the  excuse 
that  he  is  of  noble  blood." 

"Nay,"  returned  the  ambassador,  placidly, "  it  is  allowable 
for  a  Breton,  fresh  from  his  native  hamlet,  not  to  know  all 
the  edicts " 

I' Eh,  is  the  rascal  a  Breton?"asked  the  King,  softening  his 
voice. 

"  As  for  his  nobility  that  is  rather  dubious— silt  he  can 
be  ennobled  at  any  time  by  your  Majesty.  As  for  the  dead 
Musketeer,  there  is  no  lack  of  them,  your  Majesty  havine 


1 66  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

two  companies,  each  five  hundred  strong.  Besides,  judging 
by  the  statement,  this  deceased  M.  de  Bregy  was  not  the 
finest  sample  of  French  chivalry " 

4<  But  still  his  murderer " 

*  Adversary,  if  you  will  allow  it——" 

"  Be  it  so — his  adversary  seems  very  dear  to  you  ?" 

'*  Not  the  least  in  the  world  ;  I  hardly  know  him  and 
only  once  met  him,  but  he  is  useful  to  me,  which  is  of  much 
more  importance." 

"  Useful  ?  what  could  you  do  with  him  ?" 

Aramis  looked  the  speaker  in  the  face  and  replied,  lower* 
ing  his  voice  but  giving  each  syllable  a  value: 

*'  If  it  please  your  Majesty,  I  should  make  him  the  Knight 
of  Locraaria,  and  the  husband  of  Mdlle.  du  TremWay." 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE   FELLOW    PRISONER. 

IT  is  high  time  to  return  to  our  friend  Joel. 

Fortunately,  there  is  no  fear  but  we  shall  find  him  whera 
we  left  him,  as  the  Bastille  guarded  its  prisoners  with  only 
to  great  abundance  of  ditches,  ramparts,  bars,  bolts,  locks, 
wardens,  soldiers,  and  spies  for  anyone  to  go  forth  un- 
allowed, unless  he  wore  wings,  or  had  the  patience  in  dig- 
ging his  way  out  which  Latude  exhibited. 

Joel  was  incarcerated  in  that  one  of  the  eight  towers  called 
the  Basiniere.  His  cell  was  on  the  third  floor  of  it. 

At  the  first,  the  unhappy  youth  was  like  one  stunned  by 
•the  violence  of  the  shock  befalling  him  :  motionless,  dulled, 
he  had  no  sight  but  the  terrible  state  prison  whose  name  the 
jailer  had  shouted  to  him  on  leaving  him.  Shaking  himself 
at  last  like  one  casting  aside  the  clinging  effects  of  a  night- 
snare,  he  had  looked  around  and  made  the  circuit  of 
his  room— which  did  not  take  long.  Instinct  being  strong, 
he  went  to  the  window  for  air  and  light — a  small  loop-hole, 
doubly  grated  with  thick  iron  bars. 

Hapless  Joel! 

This  robust  countryman,  habituated  to  drink  in  pure  air 
as  he  raced  over  the  heabhs  or  on  the  beach ,  in  the  forests 


•r  along  the  cliffs,  was  now  reduced  to  draw  breath  tnrouga 
a  mere  crevice.  It  was  too  narrow  for  him  to  insert  his 
head.  He  could  barely  descry  a  patch  of  sky  on  which 
nothing  was  outlined — not  even  a  treetop,  a  weathercock,  or 
a  spiral  column  of  smoke. 

The  captive  examined  the  worm-eaten  table,  covered  with ' 
a  worn  cloth,  which,  with  a  bed  and  a  stool,  formed  the 
furniture.     He  felt  the  bed,  which  struck  him  as  hard,  and 
finally  returned  to  a  seat  on  the  stool,  where  he  gave  himself 
up  to  the  saddest  reflections. 

So,  he  was  in  jail,  under  the  possibility  of  being  condemn- 
ed to  capital  punishment !  in  that  quarter,  no  illusion  was 
possible  :  the  crime  was  evident,  the  law  formal;  the  trib- 
unal would  surely  doom  the  culprit,  and  there  were  nine 
chances  and  a  half  that  the  King  would  sign  the  death-war- 
rant. Now,  our  hero  did  not  dread  death.  But  he  longed 
for  life.  Particularly  deplored  its  being  cut  short  because  of 
how  he  had  meant  to  employ  it :  in  accomplishing  the  task 
imposed  by  his  mother,  and  afterwards  in  consecrating  him- 
self to  making  his  beloved  happy. 

But  in  the  midst  of  his  higher,  holier  thoughts,  nature  as- 
serted itself — Joel  was  hungry,  thirsty  and  in  need  of  rest. 
When  his  dinner  was  brought  him,  a  copious  one  and  well 
served,  it  must  be  admitted,  which  showed  that  the  spirit 
of  the  former  governor  Baisemeaux  still  haunted  the  pris- 
on— he  ate  like  a  starved  animal.  The  furniture  was  poor 
but  the  provender  good.  After  which  he  flung  himself  on 
his  bed,  and  slept  as  soundly  as  if  he  had  been  in  the  guest- 
room of  the  Blackamoor  lulled  by  the  ceaseless  babble  of 
little  Friquet. 

When  he  awoke  at  daylight,  he  had  some  difficulty  in  re- 
membering where  he  was.  But  a  glance  on  the  surrounding 
walls  told  him  that  he  was  in  the  Bastille.  As  this  confirma- 
tion drew  a  sigh  from  him  the  turnkey  walked  in  and 
said  : 

"Exercise-time,  master.  If  you  like  to  come  up  to  the 
tower  top  you  can  get  some  air  that  beats  anything  down  in 
the  streets.  You  can  hare  a  chat  with  the  other  gentlemen' 
prisoners,  which  will  stir  you  up  a  bit."  As  he  guided  the 
new-comer  through  the  maze  of  stairs  and  lobbies,  he  added: 
Besides,  you  will  not  make  any  long  acquaintances  as  it  ap- 
pears that  your  trial  will  come  off  pretty  soon.  The  majof 


1 68  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR. 

bade  me  announce  that  the  constabulary  recorder  would 
look  you  up  to  communicate  the  decree,  to-morrow." 

The  exercise  took  place  on  the  "tower  leads,"  or  leaden 
roof.  As  there  were  five  storeys,  a  prisoner  to  each,  Joel 
met  four  strollers  up  aloft.  On  their  countenances  and 
clothes  one  could  almost  read  the  date  of  their  imprison- 
ment. Two  of  them  were  men  in  their  fortieth  year  and 
were  insignificant.  The  third  was  a  man  of  medium  stat- 
ure and  middle  age,  square- shouldered,  and  strongly  built  : 
he  had  a  round,  good-humored  face,  with  a  stupid  eye  and 
silly  smile  ;  in  short,  the  aspect  of  a  citizen  rather  idiotic. 
The  last  was  an  old  man  of  eighty,  with  long  white  locks  and 
beard  in  disorder  and  vestments  in  tatters. 

On  the  coming  up  of  our  hero  into  this  sky-parlor,  the 
first  three  eagerly  asked  : 

"  What's  the  news  from  Paris  ?" 

"In  sooth,  gentlemen,"  was  Joel's  reply,  "I  am  at  a  loss 
to  satisfy  you,  from  my  being  arrested  when  I  had  scarcely 
more  than  arrived  from  my  province." 

"So  you  were  arrested  ?" 

"Oddsbobs  !  I  should  think  so.  You  did  not  come  her* 
for  the  pleasure  of  this  promenade,  I  engage  !" 

"Well,  no,  they  had  certainly  not." 

"But  what  were  you  arrested  for  ?"  inquired  the  dull-eyed 
citizen. 

The  Breton  related  his  adventure,  at  the  termination  of 
which  the  other  remarked  with  a  doleful  wagging  of  the 
head  :  ''By  our  Ladyj  your  case  looks  black  to  me.  The 
King  does  not  joke  with  duelists.  However,  you  have  the 
advantage  of  knowing  what  you  are  shut  up  for." 

"Do  not  all  prisoners  ?"  quickly  asked  JoeL 

"Well,  I  do  not  in  the  least" 

"Nor  I." 

"Neither  do  I." 

The  new-comer  did  not  like  to  put  the  question  to  the 
.  Jd  man,  but  as  he  looked  at  him  inquisitively,  the  latter 
<  ,X>ke. 

"I  am  sorry  for  you,  my  gentleman,"  said  he  in  a  grave 
"You  will  certainly  suffer  the  fate  of  those  executed 

T  the  same  offence.     The  Cardinal  has  no  pity." 

"What  cardinal  ?"  inquired  the  Breton. 

The  other  stared  at  him  with  astonishment. 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  169 

"Can  there  be  any  other  than  his  Red  Eminence,  Cardinal 
Richelieu  ?" 

''Bless  us!  he  has  been  dead  these  thirty  years!" 

"Are  you  sure?" 

"And  his  successor,  Cardinal  Mazarin,  is  in  the  same 
state." 

"But  there  is  a  King  Louis  XIII.  yet?" 

"No,  he  died  before  the  latter  and  followed  the  former 
into  the  grave." 

"Excuse  me,  monsieur,"  said  the  old  man  politely.  "I  was 
ignorant  of  these  events,  having  entered  here  in  the  year 
of  the  birth  of  that  King's  first-born." 

The  Son  of  Porthos  shuddered,  for  he  had  not  spent  as 
many  hours  in  prison  as  this  wretch  had  years!  Still,  out 
of  all  the  prisoners,  this  one  seemed  the  most  calm  and  re» 
signed.  In  the  evening  when  the  warden  brought  supper, 
he  asked  who  the  aged  man  was. 

"That's  Number  68,"  responded  the  man  carelessly. 

"And  the  others?" 

"Oh,  they  are  123,  136  and  141." 

The  key-bearer  condescended  to  explain  that  the  Bastille's 
guests  lost  their  names  in  entering  and  were  distinguished 
merely  by  numbers;  the  servants  knew  not  the  motives  for 
their  detention,  and  the  governor  would  not  in  most  cases 
know  unless  he  himself  questioned  them.  In  many  cases, 
however,  they  knew  as  little  as  himself. 

"Then,  I  am  a  number,  too?"  queried  the  squire. 

"Not  yet,"  replied  the  turnkey,  "for  you  are  an  exception. 
It  has  not  been  seen  fit  to  supply  you  with  one,  as  it  does 
not  look  as  though  you  would  get  blue-mouldy  here; — it  is 
given  out,"  he  added,  with  a  grin,  "you  will  have  your  head 
off  next  week." 

!•  Next  day,  as  had  been  foretold,  the  prisoner  saw,  entering 
his  room,  with  the  gravity  of  his  office,  Master  Onesime 
Chamonin,  Chief  Recorder  of  the  Constabulary.  He  deigned 
to  inform  our  captive  that  he  was  under  watch  and  ward  be« 
cause  of  his  attire,  his  apoearance  and  the  extreme  length  of 
his  sword.  The  St.  Germain  forest-keepers  had  been  struck  by 
his  ncight  and  broad  chest,  hisBreton  breeches,  the  peacock's 
feather  in  his  hat,  the  unusual  length  of  his  rapier,  as  well 
as  his  wild  bearing  and  unsteady  step — and  having  guessed 
he  was  the  slayer  of  Corporal  Bregy,  whose  body  they  were 


170  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

charged  to  convey  to  the  town,  they  had  hastened  to  fur* 
nish  his  description  to  Lareynie's  spies.  Thus  these  were  en« 
abled  to  dog  him  into  the  Blackamoor  Inn  at  Paris. 

The  four  Musketeers  had  refused  to  provide  any  informa- 
tion  on  the  case,  as  well  as  on  the  survivor  of  the  meeting 
except  to  declare  that  all  had  passed  according  to  the  code 
of  honor. 

Chamonin  called  upon  the  accused  to  set  forth  his  proofs 
of  nobility  so  that  he  might  be  tried  by  his  peers,  the  noble- 
men composing  the  Tribunal  of  honor.  As  the  Son  of  the 
Baron  du  Vallon  answered  in  full  sincerity  that,  while  be- 
lieving himself  of  blue  blood,  he  had  nothing  but  his  word 
and  belief  to  establish  it,  the  worthy  recorder  retired  with 
the  sentence  : 

**  In  that  case,  you  will  not  be  beheaded,  but  only 
hanged." 

At  the  issue  of  this  conference,  Joel  went  upon  the  roof. 
At  first  he  was  alone,  as  it  rained  and  the  guests  of  the  Bas- 
tille preferred  even  their  cells  to  bad  weather.  Chamonin's 
declaration  had  clouded  our  hero  in  look  and  heart.  He 
had  seen  the  execution,  by  hanging,  of  a  liorsethief  at  Guer- 
nab  Guerande.  What  a  hideous  thing  is  the  gallows-tree  ! 
The  whole  scene  had  remained  in  the  young  man's  mem- 
ory and  it  made  him  shudder  now  after  years.  And  it  was 
this  ignoble,  infamous,  horrible  death  which  was  reserved 
for  him,  a  man  so  exuberant  in  strength,  courage  for  grand 
deeds  and  such  high  aspirations! 

To  drive  away  such  miserable  thoughts,  he  strove  through 
the  rain  to  find  among  the  houses  of  the  city,  the  Church  of 
St  Paul's,  where  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  attended  evening 
service,  and  they  had  exchanged  their  hearts  and  the  Grey 
House  in  the  St.  Jacques  suburb  where  Aurore  was  now 
sheltered.  As  he  \vas  absorbed  in  the  search,  a  hand  was  laid 
on  iiis  shoulder.  He  turned  sharply. 

It  was  one  of  the  four  other  lodgers  in  the  tower  :  the 
one  with  the  dull  and  guileless  air,  who  had  approached, 
without  his  hearing  him.  Joel  did  not  recognize  him  at 
once. 

"Who  are  you  and  what  do  you  want?"  he  challenged 
roughly. 

"  I  am  Number  141,  to  serve  you,  if  I  may,  sir,*'  rejoined 
the  old  fellow  gently.  "A  prisoner  like  yourself,  a  fellow* 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  171 

lodger  in  this  strong  box  where  the  King  keeps  those  ha 
wishes  held  in  hand.  I  occupy  the  drawer  above  your  own." 

"Eh?" 

"I  mean  to  say  that  1  am  lodged  in  the  fourth  floor — not 
an  unpleasant  place,  but  I  am  going  to  quit  it." 

"Changing  your  room  ?" 

"No,  I  am  going  to  be  oat  of  it  altogether,"  returned  the 
man  jestingly. 

"Released  ?" 

"Not  a  bit  like  it.  I  am  going  to  make  a  try  to  escape  to- 
night," continued  the  confidential  acquaintance  in  a  low 
whisper. 

"Escape?''  repeated  Joel. 

"Not  so  loud  !"  said  the  prisoner,  grasping  him  by  the 
arm.  "You  will  ruin  me.  Here  of  all  places  the  walls  have 
ears.  Yes, "he  went  on,  "I  shall  be  out  to-night.  Heaven  is 
my  witness  that  I  should  like  to  take  you  with  me,  but  I 
have  misgivings  mingled  with  my  hopes." 

''How  can  one  leave  the  Bastille  "  questioned  the  Breton, 
his  curiosity  excited  to  the  highest  point. 

"With  patience,  skill  and  tools,  in  time.  With  instruments 
and  assistance  from  without  very  quickly.  I  have  a  daughter 
who  is  my  life,  my  joy,  all  I  care  for.  She  has  a  lover  who 
has  come  to  my  aid  with  all  that  I  need.  I  have  a  file  and 
a  rope.  I  have  sawn  my  two  window-bars  so  that  they  will 
readily  snap,  leaving  an  opening  through  which  I  can  slip. 
Towards  midnight,  I  will  tie  my  cord  to  the  remaining  bar 
and  lower  myself  on  it  as  it  hangs.  In  such  bad  weather  as 
impends,  I  may  have  the  luck  of  the  sentry,  stationed  below, 
keeping  in  his  watch  box.  If  he  be  outside,  worse  luck  !  he 
will  fire  on  me.  If  missed,  I  shall  leap  from  the  rampart  into 
the  moat,  swim  across,  climb  the  other  side  and  try  to  steal 
into  one  of  the  houses  by  the  garrets,  unless  I  can  climb 
down  a  gutterpipe." 

"But  you  run  the  risk  of  breaking  your  neck  a  score  of 
times,"  remonstrated  the  Breton. 

The  elder  snapped  his  fingers  ;  he  had  dropped  the  mask 
of  stupid  content,  and  his  heretofore  dim  eye  darted  a  flame 
which  would  have  made  the  boldest  recoil.  His  companion 
felt  singular  uneasiness  in  parleying  with  this  double- 
face  :  it  was  certainly  not  fright  so  much  as  it  was  repug- 
nance. 


172  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OK, 

"Why  do  you  behave  so  confidentially  with  me  ?"he  Mi- 
quired. 

''  Firstly,  because  you  would  n  ot  betray  me  ;  your  are  an 
honest  youth  as  1  read  in  your  face.  We  are  a  family  of 
wizards,  fortune-tellers  and  the  like.  And  again,  because 
I  nave  a  favor  to  sue  from  you.  As  you  have  said,  I  run 
many  risks  of  being  snot,  or  my  rope  may  break  ;  I  may 
drown  in  swimming  the  ditch,  or  break  my  bones  scaling  the 
roofs  and  walls  ;  lastely  1  might  be  recaptured,  but  1  will 
kill  myself  first.  It  is  for  my  daughter's  sake  that  I  risk  all. 
Afar  from  her  kisses  I  am  eating  up  my  heart;  I  would  pour 
out  all  my  blood  for  one  of  them.  1  would  leap  off  this  tower 
to  die  on  the  skirt  of  her  dress.  It  is  to  see  her — to  em- 
brace her  that  I  will  attempt  this  nigut  the  enterprise  which 
to  you  appears  so  Hazardous,  and  to  me  the  more  as  I  never 
put  the  faith  in  her  sweetheart  wiiich  sue  feels.  This  supply 
of  the  means  to  make  my  escape  may  be  but  a  trap  in  which 
I  shall  meet  death, — but  I  shall  foil  the  plotter,  if  the  man 
is  false,  by  constituting  you  my  executor  to  convey  my  in- 
heritance to  my  child." 

"I?"  exclaimed  the  young  man,  shrinking  from  the  odd 
desire. 

The  prisoner  drew  from  within  his  garments  a  brass  box, 
about  the  size  and  shape  of  a  large  coin. 

"This  is  hollow,"  he  proceeded:  "it  encloses  a  paper  for 
which  my  enemies  would  pay  an  entire  fortune.  .  For  my 
Therese  it  will  be  a  piece  of  armor  fit  to  defend  her  from  all 
blows  from  whatsoever  quarter."  Up  to  the  present  I  have 
contrived  to  hide  it  from  all  searches.  If  found  on  me,  it 
will  be  destroyed,  and  so  this  case  must  not  leave  your  hands 
but  to  be  put  into  my  daughter's  hands——" 

"You  are  asking  an  impossible  thing,"  responded  the  Bre- 
ton, "How  am  I  to  fulfill  such  a  mission?" 

"I  read  in  the  stars  that  you  will  go  from  this  place  more 
easily  than  I,  and  not  to  your  deatii.  Even  if  you  were 
doomed  to  death,  you  are  not  one  of  those  dangerous  crim- 
inals, who  are  made  to  disappear  in  the  dark  lest  they  shout 
out  on  the  scaffold  some  destructive  secret.  You  will  be  reg- 
ularly tried  ;  the  court  may  apply  some  dreadful  punishment 
to  you,  but  your  exceptional  situation  will  command  some 
alleviation.  A  duelist  is  not  one  of  those  malefactors  who 
horrify  or  are  scorned.  You  have  relatives  outside  or  friends 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  175 

with  whom  you  may  communicate;  your  legal  defender  can 
confer  with  you;  you  may  ask  a  favor  of  your  guards  or 
bribe  a  keeper.  When  sentenced,  you  will  be  allowed  to  say 
farewell  to  your  dear  ones.  Thus  it  will  be  through  one  of 
these  that  you  will  pass  this  talisman  to  my  daughter,  unless 
you  prefer  to  give  it  her  directly  by  summoning  her  to 
you." 

"Yes,  at  a  pinch,  something  like  this  may  be  done,"  re* 
plied  the  squire:  "  but " 

"But  ?"  retorted  the  prisoner,  with  warmth,"  would  you 
refuse  to  help  a  wretch  who  has  no  hope  but  in  you  to  pre- 
serve an  innocent  girl  from  woes  without  end  ?" 

Once  more  his  face  had  changed;  it  now  bore  witness  to 
so  ardent  an  affection  for  the  girl  in  whose  behalt  he  prayed, 
that  the  hearer  was  touched  in  spite  of  himself. 

"Since  you  insist  so  strongly,"  said  Joel,  without  hiding 
his  ill  grace,  "I  will  consent  to  serve  you." 

"Insist — indeed,  I  do — in  the  name  of  all  you  love  !" 

"Enough,"  said  Joel,  thinking  of  Aurore,  at  this;  **giv« 
me  the  box." 

"You  promise  to  return  it  to  me  or  to  get  it  into  tho 
girl's  hands?" 

"I  promise  at  least  to  try  to  do  so  by  all  the  means  in  my 
power." 

"I  do  not  doubt  you.  Heaven  prompts  me.  You  will  han<£ 
over  the  case  without  reading  the  enclosure  ?" 

"It  is  fastened  up  secretly." 

"That  may  be  mastered  :  the  case  broken " 

"What  do  you  take  me  for?"  protested  the  Son  of  Porthos, 
repulsing  the  medallion. 

"Nay,  I  am  unfair  !  pardon  me  !  misfortune  makes  mo 
distrustful.  Take  it,  but  hide  it  from  all  eyes." 

"Be  at  ease.  I  will  wear  it  hung  round  my  neck  under  my 
clothes.  But  what  is  the  name  of  your  daughter  ?  where  am 
I  to  go  to  deliver  this  article  or  send  it  to  her  ?" 

"My  daughter's  name  is  Therese  Lesage  ;  she  lives  in  the 
middle  of  Bouloi  Street,  and  carries  on  business,  I  am  in- 
formed, as  the  Manicarde,  as  fortune-teller — it  is  our  her- 
editary trade." 

This,  then,  was  the  soothsayer  whom  the  Marchioness  de 
Montespan  and  her  two  companions  had  visited  on  the  night 
when  Joel  had  made  those  ladies'  acquaintance  ;  but  he  did 


174  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

not  know  the  name  of  the  street  or  on  what  errand  they  wert 
out  so  late.  The  mention  conveyed  no  hint  to  him. 

"I  will  make  a  note  of  this,  and  the  likelihood  is  that  I 
shall  not  be  searched  from  it  not  being  suspected  that  I  har- 
bor state  secrets." 

"Oh,  sir,"  said  the  other,  with  a  false  note  or  two  in  his 
voice,  "if  ever  I  can — or  if  my  Therese  can  repay  you  for 
me " 

"I  give  you  a  free  receipt,  my  companion,  and  the  same 
to  your  daughter.  But  one  word  more:  if  your  project  suc- 
ceeds to-night,  as  I  trust  heartily  it  may-  -" 

"Be  easy:  if  I  am  free,  I  will  manage  to  see  you  and  re- 
cover the  article." 

At  this  moment,  the  warden's  voice  was  heard  :  "Time 
to  turn  in  !  come  down,  all  out  on  exercise  !" 

Our  hero  mechanically  held  out  his  hand  to  the  other, 
saying  "We  must  part.  Good  luck  !  Before  sleeping  to- 
night, I  shall  pray  for  your  success." 

The  old  man's  face  twitched  and  he  rejoined  with  bitter- 
ness : 

"You  are  luckier  than  I  in  being  able  to  pray  and  sleep. 
I  thank  you  for  the  honor,"  he  added,  rejecting  the  hand, 
"but  not  till  we  meet  again." 

"  In  the  other  world,  then,  "  subjoined  Joel  gravely; 
"  for  my  opinion  is  that  both  of  us  are  in  the  shadow  of 
death." 

Number  141  ironically  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  Where  you  like,"  returned  he  ;  with  a  sneering  laugh  : 
"But,  as  you  are  a  good  man  and  I,  a  great  sinner,  I  do  not 
believe  it  will  be  in  paradise." 

Spite  of  Joel's  assurance  about  his  ability  to  sleep,  mid- 
night came  and  he  had  not  closed  an  eye  :  the  talk  with  th« 
father  of  Therese  Lesage  kept  him  alert. 

Not  that  he  was  immeasurably  interested  in  Number  141: 
the  shifting  and  equivocal  expressiqns  on  his  features 
instinctively  shocked  our  loyal  hero,  and  he  divined  a  danger- 
ous rogue  beneath  the  skillful  deceiver.  Still,  in  thinking 
of  the  perils  the  unhappy  man  was  about  to  confront  to  reach 
his  daughter  and  recover  liberty,  the  young  man  could  not 
stifle  compassion  or  prevent  forming  vows  for  the  enigmat- 
ical person's  success  in  the  task,  for  at  least  he  gave  proof 
of  bravery. 


THE  DEATH  O*  ARAMIS.  175 

Outside,  the  tempest  blew  more  and  more  bitttrly  and  vio. 
lently.  The  gusts  played  about  the  old  tower  with  the  howl- 
ings  of  wild  beasts.  The  dashes  of  water  drummed  on  the 
walls  till  they  returned  a  continuous  dull  beating.  Midnight 
rang  from  the  great  clock  of  the  prison,  incessantly  remind- 
ing the  prisoners  how  the  hours  of  punishment  went. 

Joel  kept  his  eyes  rivetted  on  the  loophole  over  the  foot 
of  his  bed.  It  seemed  a  light  spot  in  the  prevailing  gloom. 
Suddenly,  it  was  partly  eclipsed  by  an  opaque  body  :  it  was 
the  prisoner  lowering  himself  from  his  cell  above. 

At  this  juncture  the  gale  delivered  its  most  furious  assault 
upon  the  fortalice.  It  shook  it  with  such  rage  that  it  seemed 
as  if  it  were  determined  to  tear  the  old  fortress  from  the 
ground,  and  bear  it  away  on  its  wings  like  a  shingle  from  a 
roof. 

The  prayer  of  Breton  seamen  in  a  whirlwind  involuntarily 
rose  to  the  watcher's  lips.  Some  minutes  elapsed,  long  as  cen- 
turies until  a  gunshot  cracked  amid  the  crash  of  the  unchained 
elements.  A  great  tumult  arose  as  though  everybody  in  the 
prison  were  awakened;  there  was  running  about  and  shout- 
ing, orders  sounded  on  all  sides,  and  voices  called  "To  arms!" 

When  the  warder  entered  his  room  in  the  morning,  Joel 
asked  what  had  happened  during  the  night. 

"I  could  not  close  my  eyes.  What  an  uproar  there  was 
with  the  storm,  and  you  fellows'rushing  about,  and  shouting, 
and  shooting " 

"It  was  an  attempt  to  escape,"  replied  Huguenin. 

"Anybody  I  would  know  ?" 

"Yes,  your  neighbor  overhead,  Number  141,  who  sawed 
his  window  bars  and  slid  down  a  rope  from  them.  But  when 
the  ground  was  reached,  the  sentry  there  challenged  him  and 
as  the  fugitive  only  set  to  jumping  the  moat,  he  followed 
his  orders  by  firing  on  him." 

"And  then?" 

The  jailer  puffed  as  if  blowing  out  a  candle. 

"Number  141  is  no  more — gone  off — killed  with  a  bullet 
in  the  head." 

Joel,  who  had  begun  his  breakfast,  put  down  the  glass 
carried  to  his  lips. 

"Heaven  receive  his  soul  !"  he  exclaimed. 

"It  is  more  certain  that  they  will  have  it  in  the  other 
qpurter,"  replied  the  turnkey,  shrugging  his  shoulders,  "for 


176  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

he  was  a  thorough-paced  rogue.  A  hundred  times  he  ought  t« 
have  laid  down  his  life,  broken  on  the  wheel,  or  lashed  to 
death,  or  in  the  halter " 

"That  man  ?" 

The  jailer  was  in  a  talkative  mood  this  morning. 

''It  happens  that  he  is  the  very  one  of  my  lodgers  whose 
tale  I  know,"  he  rambled  on.  "Desgrais,  the  police-officer 
who  brought  him  in,  told  me  all  about  him.  His  name  is 
Pierre  Lesage,  said  to  have  been  a  priest  in  the  house  of 
Montmorency,  but  that  is  a  flam — he  is  a  half-gipsy,  thief, 
beggar,  horse-doctor  and  horse-thief,  vendor  of  all  sorts  of 
abominable  drugs.  It  is  a  sure  thing  that  he  was  a  wool- 
dealer  at  Rouen  before  he  became  the  principal  partner  in 
Me  wicked  deeds  of  the  famous  prisoners,  La  Voisin,  Fil- 
astre  and  Vigoureux,  three  witches  whom  the  Chambre  Ar- 
dent soon  made  a  finish  with.  Their  victims  are  said  to  be 
reckoned  by  the  hundreds,  and  high  and  mighty  folks  em- 
ployed them." 

"But  how  came  it  that  he  did  not  suffer  the  same  fate  as 
his  accomplices  ?" 

"That  is  the  hitch — they  feared  that  he  would  raise  his 
voice  so  loud  in  an  open  court  that  the  public  would  hear 
queer  things,  the  names  of  their  employers,  very  great  per- 
sonages, do  you  see  ?" 

He  winked  significantly. 

"So  M.  Lareynie  suppressed  the  ugly  business,  and  it 
was  considered  enough  to  forget  this  knave  in  our  tower." 

"Which  was  not  strong  enough  to  keep  him  in,"  said  the 
Breton. 

"Nay,  there  is  nothing  the  matter  with  the  tower,"  said 
Huguenin,  assuming  a  sly  and  mysterious  air,  "He  had 
tools  to  break  out,  but  do  not  you  run  away  with  the  idea 
that  they  were  smuggled  in  without  our  knowing  all  about 
that  Why,  I  was  charged  to  mark  each  day  how  he  was 
getting  on  with  the  work — while  he  was  strolling  about  with 
the  rest  of  you  aloft.  It  took  a  long  time,  for  the  bars 
are  good  stuff,  but  he  came  to  an  end,  whereupon  I  notified 
Major  du  Junca.  The  bird  was  about  to  take  a  flight !  So 
the  sentry  was  warned,  the  best  marksman  we  have  in  the 
garrison,  and  he  earned  his  ten  pistoles,  by  breaking  that 
thorn  in  the  foot  of  many  a  lofty  one  at  court,  beginning 
with  the  Marchioness  de  Montespan." 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAMIS.  177 

"Zounds!1* ^claimed  Joel,  thinking  to  himself  that  he  knew 
how  why  he  had  felt  a  repulsion  to  the  murdered  prisoner,  when 
their  hands  touched,  and  now  from  the  locket  on  his  breast. 
It  burned  him,  as  though  heated  white  hot  by  a  flame  from 
below,  and  twenty  times  in  the  day,  he  felt  like  tearing  it  off 
and  smashing  it  vnder  his  heel.  But  the  idea  that  he  had 
given  his  promise  withheld  him,  for  his  mother  had  always 
said: 

"Do  not  lightly  pass  your  word:  but  be  a  slave  to  it  when 
it  is  given,  even  to  »  knave." 

All  day  long,  the  wemory  and  the  speech  of  Pierre  Lesage 
haunted  him. 

"Comrade,  did  that  monster  leave  a  family  ?"  he  asked  of 
the  warden  that  evening  at  suppertime 

"  What  monster  ?"  inquired  the  man,  who  had  already  for 
gotten  the  morning's  conversation. 

"  Number  141,  killed  last  night." 

"  I  hardly  know — wait  a  bit !  Yes,  there  was  somethi/.g 
fiaid  by  the  police-officer  about  a  daughter  of  his,  whcoe 
mother  was  La  Voisin — who  UKCS  with  one  of  the  gang  who 
duded  justice." 

"  Some  frightful  old  hag  like  her  mother  ?" 

"I  cannot  enlighten  you  on  the  head,  as  I  never  saw  tht 
girl.  And  very  likely,  she  would  decamp  when  th,*  father 
and  motner  were  arrested." 

"Very  likely,  "  thoughtjoel,  "and  that  relieves  roe  of  my 
promise.  If  she  is  not  here  in  Paris-  I  am  not  required  to 
travel  the  world  over  after  her.  And  yet,0  he  said  with  a 
change  of  mind,  "I  should  like  to  knot*  what  h»s  become  of 
her." 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

A  MYSTERIOUS  TRANSFER. 

DAYS  went  by  without  bringing  our  prwo^v  any  news  of 
his  case.  In  the  third  week,  he  began  to  tret  In  his  dear 
Brittany,  he  used  to  employ  his  time  from  dawn  in  hunting, 
•hooting,  rambling,  riding,  all  those  athletic  pursuits 
which  had  become  as  much  a  necessity  an  the  air  and 
the  light  Since  he  came  to  town*  hu  oaya  bad  been  fillad 


«7«  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR. 

with  adventures  of  all  sorts.  And  out  of  this  free,  agitated 
and  extensive  circle,  he  was  dropped  into  the  stifling  air, 
stillness  and  monotony  of  a  prison.  The  vital  fluid,  boiling 
in  his  veins,  had  no  longer  any  outlet ;  it  rushed  to  his  head 
and  made  his  arteries  beat  as  if  he  had  a  fever.  He  re- 
mained whole  hours,  shunt:  on  his  stool,  his  legs  crossed, 
and  his  chin  held  in  his  iiand,  staring  idly. 

When  evening  came,  he  would  throw  himself  on  his  couch, 
closing  his  eyes  but  merely  dozing  as  he  viewed  extraordinary 
visions  :  and  it  was  not  till  morning  that  he  went  off  into  a 
leaden  slumber,  in  which  was  engendered  some  incoherent 
dream.  He  had  wings  sprout  out  upon  him  like  a  bird's  or  a 
bat's,  and  he  flew  out  of  his  window  ;  but  at  the  time  when 
he  was  passing  over  the  outer  wall,  he  fell  into  fathomless 
abysses  or  he  was  shot,  and  he  woke  up  witii  a  throbbing 
.'icart,  his  chest  panting,  and  his  forehead  streaming  with 
sweat. 

As  soon  as  aroused  he  would  pace  his  room  like  a  bear 
perambulating  his  cage,  until,  tired  out,  he  would,  as  before, 
sit  upon  the  stool,  with  swinging  hands,  wondering  to  God 
and  man  what  he  had  done  that  One  should  abandon  him 
and  the  other  maltreat  him, 

One  afternoon  when  he  was  thus  mooning  his  time  away, 
unusual  stir  in  his  lobby  was  audible.  Soldiers  were  present- 
ing arms;  steps  approached  his  door  ;  the  key  grated  in 
the  lock  and  the  bolts  were  shot  back  :  Major  du  Junca 
walked  in. 

He  was  the  acting-governor,  awaiting  the  King's  filling  up 
the  post  left  vacant  by  death.  Making  his  monthly  inspec- 
tion, he  demanded  if  the  prisoner  had  any  complaints  of  his 
treatment  to  make. 

"I  want  for  nothing,  except  the  certainty  about  what  is  to 
be  done  with  me,"  returned  the  Son  of  Porthos.  "This  ig- 
norance in  which  I  am  left  about  my  fate  is  downright  cruel. 
On  my  soul,  since  I  am  to  die,  it  would  be  humanity  to 
abridge  my  agony  of  waiting." 

"  I  am  of  your  opinion,"  said  the  deputy-governor,  "  and 
I  propose  writing  to  M.Lareynie  to  solicit  orders  about  you. 
The  Police  Lieutenant  will  probably  refer  to  the  King,  and 
as  soon  as  the  reply  comes,  I  will  hasten  to  transmit  it  to 
you,  if  there  is  no  reason  why  I  should  not." 

"Oh.  may  this  reply  arrive  speedily!  and  may  my  departure 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAMTS.  179 

be"  so»n  from  this  prisonhouse  where  my  stay  is  daily  twenty- 
four  hours  torture!  I  am  eager  to  march  forth,  though  it  be 
between  the  chaplain  and  the  executioner." 

"Oh,  sir;  I  trust  you  will  not  be  reduced  to  that  extremity," 
protested  the  major;  "the  King  will  not  rear  again  the  scaf- 
fold en  which  perished  the  noble  duelist,  Bouteville.  He 
may  rather  merely  forget  you  are  here." 

"Forget  me,  like  Lesage  the  poisoner,"  thought  Joel,  winc- 
ing; "But  that  is  just  what  I  do  not  want  to  happen." 

"Sir,  it  is  not  what  you  wish,  but  what  the  King  likes,  '* 
observed  the  major. 

"Well,"  resumed  our  hero,  "the  King  will  be  misled  if  he 
thinks  he  is  doing  me  any  favor  in  leaving  me  in  this  hole 
instead  of  having  my  head  chopped  off." 

"  Hole  ?"  repeated  the  deputy-governor  in  a  sulky  tone  ; 
''the  King  never  makes  an  error.  I  shall  have  the  honor  to 
announce  his  decision  when  it  comes."  He  bowed,  and  with- 
drew with  the  four  musketeers,  who  served  as  guard,  and  the 
turnkey. 

This  time  it  seemed  to  the  captive  that  the  door  banged 
with  a  mournful  sound,  and  he  felt  undoubtedly  a  prisoner. 
He  fell  without  strength  on  the  stool,  and  fastened  his  light- 
less  eyes  on  the  door  which  shut  out  all  hope.  He  shrank 
mentally  and  began  to  muse  on  his  dead  mother  and  his  liv- 
ing love.  Stories  of  distinguished  captives  in  this  historical 
prison  came  to  worry  hirn.  Nearly  all  knew  their 

crimes.  But  this  old  man  met  at  exercise,  who  had  grown 
white  here  without  friends  to  sue  for  his  release,  or  pester 
the  royal  ministers  !  If  so  lone,  why  was  he  kept  here:  why, 
in  forty  years  have  made  no  attempt  to  escape  ? 

"It  strikes  me."  mused  Joel,  "that,  in  forty  years,  I  should 
have  made  forty  trials  to  get  out.  Indeed,  why  should  I  not 
try  it  at  once  ?" 

He  had  no  friends,  true  or  false,  to  pass  him  tools  like 
the  betrayed  Lesage,  but  he  might  convert  the  bars,  if  broken, 
into  some  kind  of  instrument. 

He  set  to  examining  his  room  straightway.  The  door 
was  of  three-foot  oak  plank:  the  window  was  doubly  grated; 
the  walls  were  four  foot  thick  as  he  had  noticed.  All  this 
did  not  leave  great  hopes.  He  tried  to  shake  the  door  ;  a 
number  of  bolts  and  bars  answered  for  its  solidity,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  whole  series,  being  on  the  outside;  on  the  in* 


T,  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OH. 

,ide  was  not  one  nailhead  or  nut;  so  that  the  spikes  and 
bolts  could  not  be  moved.  He  shook  the  window-bars;  they 
were  deeply  set  in  the  stone  sockets.  He  sounded  the  walls, 
but  they  returned  the  same  sound  everywhere  to  show  that 
they  were  solid. 

A  crowbar  might  have  made  an  impression  on  the  door  , 
a  file  on  ihe  bars  ;  and  a  pickax  on  the  walls  ;  but  Joel  had 
not  even  the  file  of  the  prisoner  Lesage. 

Stouthearted  as  was  our  youth,  he  felt  despair,  and  fearing 
he  was  going  mad,  he  let  a  wild,  hoarse  laugh  escape  him. 
But  after  a  fit  of  vertigo,  he  became  gradually  calm.  In  a 
month,  he  seemed  resigned  to  the  imprisonment  But  this 
was  due  to  his  having  conceived  a  plan  ;  one  of  simplicity 
and  facility  of  execution  worthy  of  his  father  Porthos,  who 
might  also  have  imagined  it,  though  he  was  wont  to  confess 
to  his  friend  d'Artagnan,  that  his  strength  did  not  lie  in  his 
head. 

"When  the  major  comes  round  for  his  monthly  scrutiny," 
ruminated  the  youth,  "  I  will  have  ended  their  plot  to  mur- 
der me  by  piecemeal  by  starting  to  murder  them  wholesale* 
i  will  brain  the  major  with  this  stool,  seize  his  sword,  settle 
his  escort  and  the  turnkey  whose  bunch  of  keys  I  will  take 
in  my  left  hand  as  a  mace.  Thus  armed,  I  will  run  amuck 
in  the  jail  and,  albeit  I  do  not  expect  to  cut  my  way  out,  I 

will  die  the  death  of  a  soldier stabbed  or  shot.     This  is 

not  including  the  satisfaction  of  spiting  the  constabulary 
which  wants  to  cut  off  my  head  and  the  King  who  seems  to 
threaten  me  with  eating  his  prison  fare  till  death  ensues." 

It  was  coming  to  this  resolution  which  restored  quiet  and 
appetite  to  him.  He  slept  and  ate  as  usual.  Did  he  not 
need  all  his  strength  to  run  full  tilt  at  the  garrison  of  the 
Bastille  ? 

One  evening  when  he  was  feasting  himself  on  this  sweet 
prospect  of  massacre,  he  heard  the  rattle  of  weapons  and  fall 
of  footsteps  betokening  the  visit  of  the  acting  governor.  In- 
deed, he  made  no  doubt  that  it  was  something  concerning 
himself,  though  at  an  unaccustomed  hour,  and  he  had  learned 
the  habits  of  the  place  during  his  six  week's  stay  Two  sol- 
diers marciied  in  and  stationed  themselves  at  the  door-way, 
behind  came  the  major,  towards  wh'Nm  Joel  stepped  with  his 
most  jovial  mien  but  holding  the  p'ooi  from  which  he  had 
risen,  in  a  handy  though  carelew  "tanner. 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM1S.  i*> 

**flow  now,  major,"  he  challenged,  "  do  you  come  to  re- 
peat his  Majesty's  will — that  I  am  to  be  beheaded  like  St. 
John,  hanged  like  Marigny,  or  sealed  up  in  this  dungeon 
wall  like  my  upstairs  neighbor?" 

Misfortune  had  taught  him  to  dissimulate,  for  he  smileC 
while  speaking  and  in  his  merry  voice  was  not  to  be  discerned 
the  least  tinge  of  irony  or  deadly  determination.  But  he  was 
ready  to  offer  his  visitors  the  stool — on  the  head  ! 

"Be  good  enough  to  accompany  me,"  responded  Junca,  "I 
have  orders  to  place  you  in  the  hands  of  one  who  waits  for 
you  below." 

Bewildered,  the  prisoner  let  the  h«*vy  piece  of  furniture 
fall  to  the  stone  floor. 

"  I — I  will  follow  you,"  said  he. 

The  two  left  the  room,  and  between  a  double  Kne  of  sol- 
diers, they  traversed  the  labyrinth  of  corridors  and  staircases, 
the  yard,  guardrooms,  drawbridge  and  the  roofed  way  which 
our  friend  had  met  in  entering.  The  march  took  place  in 
silence,  for  Joel  was  wondering  :  "  Who  can  have  come  for 
me  ?  Some  officer,"  he  supposed,  after  a  little  reflection, 
"  who  has  to  take  me  before  my  judges." 

At  the  end  of  the  vaulted  passage,  a  coach  was  waiting, 
guarded  by  four  horsemen  and  having  a  police  officer  in  a 
black  dress,  by  the  doorway. 

"Step  in,"  he  said  to  the  prisoner,  standing  on  0ne  sidt, 
to  allow  him  to  do  so. 

Joel  obeyed,  and  the  keeper  jumped  within  beside  him  ; 
the  door  was  slammed  and  locked,  and  off  started  the  vehicle. 
At  the  first,  the  pair  of  horses,  at  good  speed,  went  through 
three  parts  of  the  city  without  the  prisoner  understanding 
whither  he  was  being  conveyed.  It  was  one  of  the  dark  nights 
chosen  for  the  transfer  of  prisoners.  It  seemed  to  him  that 
he  was  taken  out  of  the  town  through  one  of  its  gates  known 
to  him.  Soon,  by  the  purer  and  sharper  air,  he  knew  that  he 
was  in  one  of  the  suburbs.  By  peeping  out  of  the  doorway 
window  he  could  see  trees  and  fields. 

"Does  the  chevalier  wish  the  glass  set  down  so  that  he 
may  breathe  at  ease?"  inquired  the  guard.  "Only,  I  beg  the 
chevalier's  promise  that  he  will  not  try  to  lose  his  present 
company.  I  should  at  the  same  time  notify  the  chevalier 
that  four  of  my  comrades,  galloping  behind  the  vehicle  and 
armed  to  the  teeth  like  me,  would  fire  on  him,  and  I  should 


l«2  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  ORt 

have  to  do  likewise  with  my  pistols  at  the  least  offer  to  «*• 
cape." 

"Why  the  mischief  does  he  style  me  chevalier,"  marvelled 
die  Breton.  "Is  there  an  error  in  the  person,  as  lawyers  say? 
An  error  of  this  gruesome  looking  officer  or  of  Major  Junca? 
After  all  he  reasoned,  with  a  flip  of  the  fingers,  "  Imay  as 
well  die  under  one  title  as  another.  Friend,"  he  said  to  the 
giver  of  this  advice,  "I  willingly  offer  the  pledge  you  seek: 
not  on  account  of  the  pistols  you  and  your  fellows  may  carry; 
if  the  steers  knew  that  they  were  being  led  to  the  slaughter- 
house there  would  certainly  be  fewer  butchers  in  the  world." 

The  sashes  were  let  down.  Need  we  paint  with  what  de- 
light our  youth  from  the  country,  oppressed  for  over  a 
month  with  the  thick,  heavy  prison  atmosphere,  intoxicated 
himself  with  the  coolness  of  this  summer  night,  full  of  starry 
gleams  and  floral  perfumes  !  With  what  inexpressible  joy, 
too  did  he  see,  instead  of  the  uniform  horizon  limited  by 
four  walls,  the  woods,  villages,  and  landscape  each  side  of 
the  highway — that  way  tracked  by  the  vehicle  wheels  at 
great  swiftness  and  the  hoofs  of  the  horses  going  like  a  whirl- 
wind. 

As  the  rapid  journey  continued,  the  prisoner  questioned 
himself  with  growing  wonder  if  he  were  not  the  dupe  of  a 
nightmare?  Had  he  not  once  before  travelled  this  road, 
gone  through  those  two  villages,  threaded  these  windings  of 
this  stream,  and  driven  through  these  woods?  Suddenly  the 
moon  unmasked  itself  from  behind  a  screen  of  tangled 
clouds,  and  whitened  a  new  curve  of  the  River  Seine. 

The  coach  crossed  a  bridge.  On  the  left  a  gigantic  elm 
mirrored  its  plentiful  foliage  in  the  cold,  silvered  water. 
On  the  right  a  large  house  stood  on  stone  pillars.  Its  roof 
overhang  so  as  to  cover  a  verandah  around  the  second  story 
From  this  swung  a  wooden  board,  on  which  was  painted  a 
picture  of  the  Large  tree. 

''Bless  my  soul  V  ejaculated  our  hero,  "the  bridge  of 
Pecq,  Sully's  Tree  Tavern,  and  that  is  the  new  Palace  of  St. 
Germain's  beyond  1"  Thinking  it  over  for  a  couple 
of  minutes,  he  continued  his  unspoken  thoughts.  "I  under- 
stand whither  they  are  taking  me — to  the  spot  where  the 
fault  was  committed — that  it  may  be  expiated  there.  Where 
I  killed  the  Musketeer,  I  am  to  lose  my  life." 

He  threw  himself  back  in  the  cpach,  with  a  slight  shiver. 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAMIS.  i8j 

He  had  a  kind  of  fear  of  seeing  the  spectre  of  the  slain 
duelist  stealing  along  in  the  moonbeams,  in  blood-spattered 
shroud. 

The  horses  breathed  hard  as  they  climbed  the  steep,  lead- 
ing from  the  riverside  into  the  town. 

"Chevalier,"  said  the  man  in  black.  "  Here  my  instruc- 
tions bid  me  have  the  windows  closed." 

Not  only  did  he  close  them,  but  he  drew  serge  curtains 
which  intercepted  all  visual  communication  with  the  outside. 
This  man,  whose  eyes  sparkled  in  a  dusky  face,  spoke  with 
a  Spanish  accent. 

"How  is  this  ?"  muttered  Joel ;  "where  have  I  heard  this 
midnight  bell  before  ?  where  have  I  seen  that  pair  of  car- 
buncles light  up  the  night  ?  where  have  I  met  this  gallows- 
hawk  ?" 

As  he  was  trying  to  collect  his  thoughts,  the  coach 
stopped.  The  "gallows-bird,"  partly  opened  the  door,  and 
invited  the  Breton  to  alight.  When  he  did  so,  he  remarked 
a  singular  building  facing  him.  It  stood  at  the  end  of  a 
vast  courtyard,  led  into  under  an  ornamental  gateway  and 
the  walls  coped  with  stone  and  adorned  with  spikes. 

"The  town  jail,  I  warrant,"  mused  the  new-comer. 

"Chevalier,  do  you  mind  giving  me  your  hand  ?"  inquired 
the  swarthy  man. 

"Confound  the  fellow,  with  his  'chevalier*  on  all  occa- 
sions. But  I  have  no  time  to  quarrel  with  him,"  added  our 
friend.  "I  have  no  time  to  dally  on  this  earth." 

He  was  so  resigned  and  prepared  for  everything  which  he 
thought  likely  to  befall  him,  except  a  life  in  prison,  that  he 
would  have  submitted  without  hesitation  if  a  block,  an  axe 
and  a  headsman  had  been  presented  to  him  and  a  sign  made 
that  he  was  to  kneel  down.  So  he  held  out  his  hand  with 
a  good  grace,  and  followed  his  guide  without  any  question 
or  observation.  Thus  he  passed,  without  heeding,  up  a 
staircase  into  a  vestibule,  into  a  gallery  and  upon  one  of 
those  flight  of  steps,  broad  and  high,  which  would  be  so  much 
space  wasted  in  the  eyes  of  our  modern  architects  who  cover 
eligible  building  lots.  On  one  of  the  steps,  leaning  on  the 
landing-rail  of  handsomely  wrought  iron,  an  old,  fat  man 
held  a  torch.  His  white  hair  was  cut  short  and  was  shaped 
on  the  top  as  a  priest's  is  shorn  ;  and  the  fine  broadcloth 
coat,  covering  a  paunch,  resembled,  in  cut,  case,  trimming 


•64  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS  ;  ORt 

mnd  color,  all  austere,  the  garments  of  a  proctor,  a  steward, 
«  beadle  or  a  pedagogue. 

"  The  head  warden,"  thought  Joel.  "  He  seems  to  be 
well  fed  here.  On  my  soul,  if  the  prisoners  are  nourished 
on  that  scale,  they  run  the  risk  of  being  taken  out  in  invalid 
chairs  on  wheels. 

"  Sen*  or  Esteban,"  said  the  fat  man  with  importance, 
*  your  duty  terminates  here." 

The  conductor  released  the  Breton  and  this  man  went  on: 
"  Will  the  chevalier  deign  to  let  me  precede  him  ?" 

"  This  tun  of  a  man  is  very  polite,"  muttered  the  Son  of 
Porthos.  "  But  why  does  he  also  decorate  me  with  the  ti- 
tle of  chevalier  like  everybody  else  ?  It  is  a  mistake  or  a 
lioax?" 

They  reached  the  first  landing. 

"The  chevalier  has  arrived,"  observed  the  corpulent  man 
m  an  unctuous  and  yet  high-pitched  voice. 

"This  hogshead  is  too  polite,"  mused  Joel,  shaking  his  head. 
*'  These  are  the  attentions  given  to  a  man  doomed  to  death, 
and  I  am  sure  it  is  a  fatal  case." 

The  other  opened  a  door  and  begged  the  chevalier  to  take 
Ihe  trouble  to  walk  in. 

"Far  too  polite,"  sighed  the  Breton.  "Woe's  me!  It]is 
certainly  in  a  dungeon  that  I  am  to  be  kept  for  the  dread- 
ful hour." 

The  old  man  waved  his  hand  for  him  to  precede  him,  and 
Ihe  other  obeyed.  On  crossing  the  threshold,  he  exclaimed  : 

"  Deuce  take  it  !  where  am  I  ?" 


CHAPTER  XX. 

BEFORE  THE  EXECUTION. 

CERTAINLY,  nothing  resembled  his  cell  in  the  Bastille  less 
than  the  room  into  which  he  walked.  The  whole  aspect  was 
changed.  No  more  barr«d  airholes,  cold,  bare  walls,  scanty 
rickety  furniture,  and  worn  beds.  All  was  new,  bright  and 
luxurious — mainly  pastoral  and  amorous,  for  the  fashion 
turned  to  Cupid  and  Watteau  shepherds  and  shepherdesses. 
It  might  have  been  believed  the  boudoir  of  a  fashionable 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAM  IS.  185 

duchess:  and  the  new  guest  was  fain  to  think  that,  the  prison 
being  overcrowded,  they  had  lodged  him  for  one  night  only 
in  the  rooms  of  the  jail  governor's  wife.  Not  even  in  the 
house  of  the  royal  children,  had  he  seen  so  much  elegance 
and  sumptuosity;  hence  he  repeated  his  question  with  grow* 
ing  surprise. 

"The  chevalier  is  at  home,"  rejoined  the  portly  usher. 

The  young  man's  brow  clouded  like  protent  of  gather, 
ing  storm. 

"At  home?  Joker  of  a  varlet,  are  you  trifling  with  me?" 

The  fat  old  man  seemed  afraid  of  Joel's  irritated  eyes.  Ha 
drew  back  a  little,  still  facing  him,  as  though  his  paunch 
would  be  a  breastwork  in  defence,  and  in  a  voice  hoarse  with 
fear,  replied: 

"I  hasten  to  affirm  to  the  chevalier  that  no  one  would  mock 
at  him.  I  am  simply  carrying  out  orders  received,  in  pursu- 
ance of  which  I  must  lock  him  up  when  I  go  forth." 

"So  I  expected,"  responded  the  prisoner  as  naturally  as 
could  be. 

"Yes,  lock  you  in  until  to-morrow,  when  they  will  come  to 
— to — well,  you  know  better  what  than  I  do." 

Our  hero  made  the  gesture  of  snapping  a  branch  in  two, 
and  said  :  "  So  it  is  fixed  for  to-morrow  ?" 

"  To-morrow  morning,  chevalier." 

"  Early  ?" 

"In  time  to  have  all  over  by  noon — it  is  the  usual 
tning." 

"Whew!"  whistled  Joel,  "they  have  rapid  judges  in  Paris 
and  its  suberb;  no  lingering  delay  of  the  law  here.  Pooh,  when 
the  wine  is  drawn  it  must  be  drunk,  and  the  worse  it  is,  the 
more  quickly!  A  nod  is  as  good  as  a  blink,  to  a  blind  horse, 
they  say  down  my  way.  I  thank  you,  friend.  I  shall  be 
ready." 

''Talking  of  cheering  up,"  said  the  other,  delighted  at  the 
smooth  way  which  the  peculiar  interview  was  making,  "if 
the  chevalier  should  feel  any  need  of  refreshment " 

"  I  see  ;  nothing  is  refused  to  a  wretch  in  my  predica- 
ment." 

"I  will  have  the  honor  of  serving  a  cold  collation,  prepared 
for  the  very  case,  it  being  contrary  to  the  good  old  rules  of 
Galen  and  Esculapius  for  a  man  to  take  his  sleep  on  an 
empty  stomach." 


i8o  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  ORt 

*'T**e  his  sleep?"  repeated  Joel,  with  a  wry  face.  It  seem* 
ed  to  him  that  in  coming  up  the  stairs  he  had  sniffed  some 
appetizing  perfumes  from  the  kitchen.  "Come  to  think  of  it, 
the  condemned  is  always  given  a  last  good  impression  of  the 
world  he  quits.  Where  is  this  cold  collation — previous  to 
the  cold  decollation,  ha  !  ha  !  I  do  not  like  to  offend  the 
ghosts  of  Galen  and  Esculapius  whom  I  may  be  near  to 
meeting." 

The  stout  man  hastened  to  roll  forward  a  side-table  on 
castors,  on  which  a  complete  set  of  table  articles  for  one  per- 
son was  placed  in  order.  He  added  to  it,  a  golden-tinted  thick 
soup  in  a  Dutch  porcelain  bowl,  an  enormous  meat-pie  in 
a  glazed  crust,  a  roast  foul  cased  in  amber  jelly,  and  a  ham 
of  such  a  lovely  rosy  hue  that  it  seemed  "materialized"  out 
of  a  painting  by  Jordaens;  to  say  nothing  of  the  dessert, 
fruit,  cheese,  cakes  and  other  spurs  to  the  thist. 

"Plague  take  me  !"  vociferated  Joel,  on  beholding  this 
knowingly  devised  feast,  "his  Majesty  treats  his  guests  hand- 
somely here.  He  is  a  prince  jealous  about  having  their  last 
moments  go  off  well.  These  succulent  meats,  that  feather 
bed  in  the  recess,  these  kickshaws " 

"  Nay,"  protested  the  other,  "this  is  only  a  light  supper; 
the  chevalier  will  be  better  able  to  appreciate  our  cook  when 
he  has  breakfast  in  the  morning " 

"Oh,  I  am  to  have  breakfast  ?" 

"Certainly,  before  the  ceremony " 

"Of  course,  how  could  I  forget  the  ceremony?"  queried 
Joel  with  a  chopfallen  face. 

"It  is  the  rule " 

"Of  course,  I  know  that  nothing  is  refused  to  those  wh» 

undergo  the  infliction  of "      And  he  ran  his  hand  round 

his  neck,  as  he  seated  himself,  and  muttered  :  "It  is  settled, 
then;  I  shall  breakfast  on  earth  though  I  sup  in  paradise!" 

The  old  man  had  placed  the  eatables  on  the  table  with  the 
solemnity  of  a  deacon  setting  the  holy  vessels  on  the  altar: 
he  might  have  been  serving  a  mass  rather  than  a  meal.  Grave, 
dignified  and  beatific,  with  his  broad  face  congealed  in  com* 
punction  and  self-concentration,  he  stood  behind  the  guef^ 
with  a  bottle  of  Chambertin  in  his  hand,  in  the  attitude  of 
the  choir-boy  holding  the  chalice,  and  he  complacently  lis- 
tened to  the  gentleman,  who,  after  finishing  the  soup  to  fckt 
last  drop,  proceeded  to  dismantle  the  patty. 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  187 

"It  will  be  a  splendid  sight — people  are  fighting  for  the 
best  places — the  chapel  is  so  small." 

Oh,  they  were  going  to  take  the  culprit  into  the  chapel; 
probably  for  the  Amende  Honorable,  or  religious  ceremony 
in  which  the  condemned  apologised  for  his  misdeed. 

"Father  Lachaise  is  going  to  speak  the  exhortation — — " 

"The  royal  confessor  !  The  King  is  doing  the  grand  tor 
me." 

"Naturally,  as  he  will  be  present." 

"The  King  is  coming  to  see  me  turned  off  ?" 

"Undoubtedly,  as  he  signed." 

"Signed  ?  the  sentence  ?  I  understand.  It  is  very  kind 
of  his  Majesty  and  much  honor  for  me." 

"And  he  brings  the  Queen,  and  she,  all  the  ladies.  All 
*he  court  will  be  there." 

"The  Queen,  too,  in  at  the  death  !  a  singular  sight  for 
her  and  ttie  ladies.  Verily,  your  court  has  lofty  tastes!  they 
will  be  delighted  when  I  lose  my  head." 

He  rose  and  threw  down  his  napkin.  After  all,  the  Queen  wag 
Spanish,  and  at  her  father's  court,  the  court  ladies  witnessed 
\he  burning  of  heretics.  It  was  necessary  that  he  should 
show  a  bold  front  to  this  choice  audience,  and  to  do  that  he 
ought  to  have  a  rest.  He  had  made  away  with  the  victuals 
vrhich  had  loaded  the  board,  like  a  juggler  causing  the  pea  to 
vanish  under  the  thimbles,  and  now  he  meant  to  see  if  the 
bed  equalled  the  cheer  in  goodness. 

"Does  the  chevalier  wish  rne  stili  to  attend  him  ?" 

"No,  I  will  go  to  bed  unhelped.  You  may  retire.  Good 
night  !" 

"The  chevalier  will  please  to  bear  in  mind  that  I  am  o- 
bliged  to  carry  away  the  room  door-key.  Please  not  to  think 
it  is  through  any  personal  freak,  but  because  my  master  or- 
dered so." 

"Carry  it  away,  my  friend:  for  happiness  there  is  no  place 
like  a  lock-up." 

"There  is  a  bell  on  the  night-table,  and  if  the  chevalier  re- 
quires anything,  he  has  but  to  ring  it,  for  there  will  be  some- 
one on  the  watch  in  the  corridor." 

"I  expected  a  sentry  would  be  posted  there.'* 

"I  wish  a  good-night  to  the  chevalier,"  said  the  old  man, 
bowing  deeply  :  "in  the  morning,  my  master,  the  Duke  of 
Alnuda,  will  see  him." 


iW  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

'Oh,  the  duke  is  the  governor,  is  he  ?  I  never  heard  his 
name  before,"  thought  our  prisoner,  as  he  was  undressing  in 
the  solitude.  "And  I  never  came  across  such  a  novel  char- 
acter as  his  turnkey.  Where  did  I  meet  him  before — this 
buckbasket  of  fat,  this  full-moon  face  of  purple,  and  thj" 
carriage  of  a  sacred  elephant  ?" 

Still  puzzled,  he  laid  down,  and  fell  off  into  a  delicious 
sleep,  whether  it  came  from  the  excellent  repast,  the  generous 
wine,  the  softness  of  the  fine  bedlinen,  or  the  fatigue  from 
the  romance  which  he  was  acting  lately  :  the  graceful  figures 
in  the  pastoral  landscapes  of  the  tapestry  mingled  with  his 
dreams  and  danced  in  a  round  of  poetical,  fabulous  and  im- 
possible charm. 

Having  an  iron  will,  our  hero  could  command  his  body  as 
readily  as  his  mind  and  heart.  Having  decided  on  taking 
rest,  he  slumbered  without  break  until  the  hour  when  a  foot- 
man glided  noiselessly  into  the  room,  and  by  drawing  the 
curtains,  let  a  flood  of  merry  sunshine  cover  the  bed  with 
a  sheet  of  gold. 

We  must  confess  that  on  waking  and  recollecting  where  he 
was  and  what  impended,  Joel  heaved  half  a  dosen  sighs  of 
Which  the  wind  would  have  knocked  down  a  bull-calf.  Per- 
suaded that  he  was  doomed  to  death,  and  that  the  sentence 
would  be  carried  out  without  delay,  he  had  resolved  to  bear 
himself  handsomely.  Not  to  unnerve  himsaif,  he  gave  up  the 
idea  of  sueing  to  see  Aurore.  An  interview  with  her  would 
have  robbed  him  of  courage.  It  was  on  paper  that  he  would 
bid  farewell  to  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay,  at  the  same  time  that 
he  would  entrust  her  with  the  deposit  for  the  prisoner's 
daughter. 

By  the  light,  Joel  judged  that  day  was  well  advanced.  As 
they  would  soon  be  coming  for  him,  he  rose  with  speed.  But 
as  his  hand  was  put  forth  to  find  his  clothes,  left  off  by  the 
bedside,  he  was  surprised  that  they  were  gone. 

"At  this  moment,  the  stout  jailer,  as  he  still  took  him  to  be, 
entered  to  ask:  "Has  the  chevalier  had  the  repose  that  meets 
his  desire  ?" 

"Entirely  so.  But  where  are  my  clothes!  what  has  become 
of  them  ?" 

'*  Consequently  he  entreats  the  chevalier  to  replace  his  Brd- 
ton  costume  by  this  suit  from  the  first  tailor's  of  Paris." 

He  waved  his  hand,  and  four  footmen  brought  in  an  elo* 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAM  IS.  189 

font  court  dress  in  flesh-colored  velvet,  with  Venetian 
lace  trimmings,  and  complete  from  the  puffed  shoes  starred 
with  diamonds  to  the  pearlgrey  felt  hat  bending  down  in 
the  flap  with  the  weight  of  a  magnificent  flame-tinted  plume. 

"This,"  continued  the  old  man,  pointing  to  an  imposing 
servant  following  the  other  four,  "this  is  Master  Hardouin, 
my  lord's  head  valet,  who  is  charged,  after  the  bath,  to  array 
the  chevalier  and  assist  him  in  the  dressing." 

"Gracious!"thought  Joel,  "What  a  lot  of  ribbons  for 
the  lamb  led  to  the  slaughter!  I  should  have  marched  as 
well  in  my  peasant  clothes,  without  fuss  and  feathers, 
pompons  and  lace.  Nevertheless,  tell  your  master  that  I  thank 
him  for  thinking  for  me,  and  that  I  shall  conform  to  his  in- 
tentions." 

At  bottom,  our  Breton  was  not  sorry  to  don  for  once  in 
his  life,  all  the  frippery  of  the  fashionables  whom  he  had 
admired  with  the  like  on  their  shoulders.  He  felt  a  secret 
pleasure  in  appearing  before  his  judges  and  proceeding  to 
the  execution  adorned  by  all  the  sheen  of  a  display  unknown 
to  him  so  far.  Now  he  felt  sure  that  he  should  look  well 
in  the  deathsman's  eyes.  His  bravery  would  be  doubled 
by  the  lustre  of  his  costume.  So  he  delivered  himself  into 
Hardouin's  hands. 

Imprisonment  had  not  injured  him.  His  sunburnt  com- 
plexion may  have  been  paled  a  little,  and  his  herculean  fig- 
ure a  trifle  reduced,  but  this  gave  him  a  delicacy  of  appear- 
ance vainly  sought  in  him  before.  Strong  and  handsome 
he  had  gone  into  the  Bastille,  and  he  came  forth  with  strength 
and  manly  beauty,  with  the  fineness  which  is  the  mark  of 
good  blood.  In  short,  here  stood  a  perfect  cavalier,  as  he 
looked  at  himself  in  a  mirror  and  acknowledged  that  he  had 
reason  to  be  proud. 

Ah,  if  Aurore  could  but  see  him  now  ! 

He  took  up  the  hat. 
1  \\  is  well.      I  am  ready.      Lead  on." 

He  went  forth  with  the  old  stout  man. 

'  How  is  this  ?"  demanded  Joel,  in  the  passage, "  nobody 
to  escort  me  ? — no  guards  f" 

"  We  have  only  the  landing  to  cross  and  the  stairs,"  replied 
the  steward. 

"  Oh,  is  it  here  the  court  assembles  ?" 

He  made  a  wry  face,  for  he  was  wishful  to  walk  through 


190  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

the  town,  and  exhibit  to  the  gaping  mob  the  stylish  garments, 
the  rich  lace  and  the  bold  sweep  of  the  plume.  The  good, 
vain  Porthos  perpetually  reappeared  in  his  son. 

"Deuce  take  them!"  he  muttered,  "I  hope,  wherever  chc 
trial  takes  place,  they  will  not  execute  me  in  camera/" 

The  steward  opened  a  door,  saying: 

"The  chevalier  de  Locmaria!" 

"Let  the  dear  boy  enter,"  rejoined  a  paternal  voice. 

Joel  uttered  an  exclamation  of  surprise:  instead  of  the 
stern  and  impressive  show  and  paraphernalia  of  justice  which 
he  had  expected  to  behold  in  the  room  where  he  was  intro- 
duced, the  Savior  on  the  cross  hung  against  dark  drapery, 
and  the  long  table  where  the  judges  would  be  sitting  in  a 
row,  cold  and  solemn  in  black  and  scarlet  robes,  the  ushers 
in  inky  garb  and  golden  chains,  the  clerks  with  longs  pens, 
the  guards  with  ebony  wands:  here  was  a  large  dining-room, 
where  the  sun  sparkled  on  Bohemian  glass  and  shone  on  the 
magnificent  silver  plate,  arrayed  on  shelves  of  an  oaken  side- 
board with  a  table  laid  for  two,  aglow  with  rare  flowers  and 
dazzling  with  bleached  linen,  crystal  and  china. 

Near  this  board  an  old  gentleman  was  buried  in  an 
armchair,  upholstered  in  Cordovan  leather,  studded  with 
gilt  nails  and  stamped  with  arabesques.  This  old  gentleman 
got  up  as  Joel  was  ushered  in,  and  was  at  once  recognized 
by  the  latter. 

"The  Chevalier  d'Herblay:"  he  broke  forth  with  his  as- 
tonishment  still  growing. 

"The  same,"  responded  the  other,  running  to  him  with 
open  arms.  "And  better,  besides,  if  you  are  agreeable.  For, 
though  I  kept  the  mask  on  during  my  journey  from  Nantes 
to  Paris,  here  at  St.  Germain  there  is  no  need  for  me  to  dis- 
avow that  I  am  the  Duke  of  Almada,  the  ambassador  of  his 
Majesty  the  K.in<»  of  Spain." 

"  Duke  of  Almada — Spanish  Ambassador  ?"  repeated 
the  youth,  pressing  his  forehead  between  both  hands  with  a 
stupefied  air,  "  my  ideas  are  buzzing  about  in  my  head  like 
fledglings  in  a  nest.  However,"  he  went  on,  putting  out  his 
hand  to  button  hole  the  other  as  if  he  feared  that  he  would 
escape  from  him,  "  since  I  do  recover  your  lordship,  will  you 
assure  me  that  I  am  in  my  senses,  not  dreaming  while  awake, 
and  if  not  the  dupe  of  a  dream,  the  actor  in  no  fairy  tale  or 
destestable  trickery  ?" 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAM  IS.  191 

**  My  young  friend,"  returned  the  duke,  cordially,  "1  wifl 
explain  what  is  to  give  you  pleasure.  I  think  with  you  that 
an  explanation  is  necessary  between  us;  but  I  should  like  to 
unfold  it  while  we  are  taking  breakfast,  for  we  have  a  great 
deal  to  get  through  with  this  morning,  and  we  must  not  lose 
any  time." 

Waving  the  guest  to  a  seat,  he  ordered  his  steward  to 
serve. 

"We  can  converse  freely,"  he  added,  as  he  unfolded  his 
napkin,  "as  my  footmen  understand  only  Spanish." 

Joel  seated  himself  mechanically  facing  his  host,  who  filled 
his  glass  and  his  plate  with  his  own  hand. 

"  If  you  do  not  object  to  speaking  while  eating,  my  boon 
companion,  I  am  at  your  orders." 

"  Where  am  I,  my  lord  ?"  began  the  Breton,  without  wait- 
ing to  be  asked  again. 

"  You  r.ve  in  my  house,  or  I  should  say,  a  friend's,  as  a 
resident  of  :?t.  Germain  lets  me  occupy  his  dwelling  when 
business  c.Jls  me  hv.her  i  it  is  the  gentleman  whom  you  saw 
with  me  at  the  inn  c.t  Saumur." 

"  Then  I  am  not  in  prison  ?" 

"  You  are  in  Boislaurier  House,  near  the  church,  and  op- 
posite the  palace." 

"But  I  have  been  in  prison,  in  the  Bastille,  these  six  weeks." 

"So  I  heard  :  from  having  delivered  a  swordthrust.  Ah,  you 
are  a  matador,  a  fatal  fighter,  as  the  Spanish  say,  my  champion 
of  Belle  Isle." 

"But  I  was  yesterday  in  the  Bassiniere  Tower  of  the  Bas- 
tille, a  vile  hole." 

"  Very  true,  as  it  was  only  yesterday  that  his  Majesty 
signed  the  order  for  your  release." 

"His  Majesty  signed  the  release  order  ?"  repeated  the 
Son  of  Porthos,  starting  upon  his  chair. 

"He  restores  you  to  the  world  and  gives  you  entire  and 
plenary  mercy." 

"So  that  I  am  free  ?" 

"As  air." 

"And  I  am  not  to  be  tried  ?" 

"Not  at  all." 

"And  hence  not  sentenced  to ** 

He  made  the  gesture  of  cutting  his  throat  with  a  drawing 
movement  of  the  edge  of  his  open  hand. 


193  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR. 

"Be  at  ease,"  returned  the  old  nobleman,  laughing.  "Ycmt 
head  may  stay  tranquil  on  its  shoulders,  which  it  would  be 
a  pity  to  remove  as  it  looks  very  well  there.  Now,  may  I  of- 
fer you  some  of  this  warmed  up  cold  partridge  with  a  glass 
of  Romance,  it  will  help  you  to  swallow  the  good  news." 

"WiUi  a  good  heart — let  us  drink  the  health  of  the  King. 
And  yours,  too,  my  lord,  since  you  come  to  me  as  the  dovo 
to  the  Ark.  But,"  after  he  had  tossed  off  a  brimming  goblet, 
''to  whom  do  I  owe  this  unlooked  for  boon  ?  who  has  beg- 
ged it  of  the  King  ?" 

"You  have  friends  at  court,  my  young  master." 

"Do  you  tell  me  so  ?  All  the  friends  I  know  ef,  are  * 
9ouple  whose  acquaintance  I  formed  at  a  Paris  inn,  tha 
Blackanooor  Trumpeter,  of  which  one  is  its  host  Bonlarron, 
and  the  other  a  fellow-guest,  one  Friquet,  neither  of  whom 
do  I  imagine  powerful  enough  to  extract  a  favor  from  the 
King." 

Alraada  shook  his  finger  at  him  with  playful  threaten* 
ing. 

"My  son  of  Brittany,  you  are  ungrateful,  and  blink,  foi 
you  look  afar  for  what  is  close  to  you." 

"You  are  right,"  returned  the  youth,  smiting  his  brow 
with  his  fist.  I  am  an  idiot,  a  blockhead,  a  heartless  scamp, 
not  to  have  guessed  sooner  :  it  is  you  who  have  doae  all  thit 
— you  are  my  liberator." 

Say  at  once  that  I  am  your  providence,"  interrupted  th« 
ether,  with  his  mouth  full  ;  "I  find  a  pleasure  in  extricating 
honest  folks  from  straits  when  they  interest  me.  By  the  way, 
will  you  have  another  helping  of  this  larded  leveret  ?" 

The  Breton  held  out  his  plate. 

"I  am  ready  for  anything,"  he  said.  "Shall  I  be  vexed 
at  you  if  you  give  me  a  fit  of  indigestion,  when  you  have 
saved  me  from  the  courts  of  justice  ?  But,"  he  quickly 
subjoined  as  a  fresh  idea  struck  him  and  caused  him  to  lay 
down  his  fork  and  lean  on  the  table  with  both  elbows  to  have 
a  good  stare  at  his  host,  "how  did  you  learn  that  I  had  a 
duel  with  that  Musketeer,  was  arrested  and  clapped  into 
the  Bastille  ?" 

"We  will  tell  you  some  day,"  said  Aramis,  chafing  hi§  chin 
with  his  hand.  "For  the  present  we  have  other  fish  to  fry. 
By  the  way,  how  did  you  like  those  smoked  eels  last  night? 
they  come  all  the  way  from  my  fishing  village  by  Barcelona, 


TME  DEA  TH  OF  A  R AMIS.  193 

and  are  appreciated  by  epicures.  You  can  thank  me  an- 
other time  ;  when  we  both  have  time,  you  to  be  lavish  of 
gratitude  and  to  receive  its  expression." 

Joel  stood  up,  his  breast  hea.ving  with  emotion. 

*'At   all  times,   you   may  have  my  life,   my  blood,   my 


arm 


"Stop  a  bit,  boy,"  interposed  the  duke,  with  good  humor, 
*'  are  you  sure  that  all  these  belong  to  you  ?  Did  you  not 
give  them  to  the  woman  you  love?" 

Joel  started,  for  these  words  reminded  him  of  Mdlle.  du 
Tremblay.  He  was  free  to  hasten  to  the  Gray  House  and 
learn  what  had  become  of  the  young  lady,  and  explain 
to  her  why  he  had  been  so  long  absent  from  her.  All  the 
ideas  which  had  been  fermenting  in  his  brain,  vanished  be- 
fore this  one.  All  he  thought  of  was  hurrying  from  table. 
Nothing  was  capable  of  paralysing  his  impulse — not  the 
Itardoons  in  marrow,  or  the  fat  young  turkey  which  were  now 
put  on  the  board. 

"  My  lord,"  he  said,  "you  have  treated  me  kindly, 
like  a  father — but  I  must  beg  a  further  favor " 

"  You  have  but  to  name  it,  my  young  friend." 

"I  want  leave  to  depart  on  business  which  will  not  wait.** 

"Quit  before  we  finish  breakfasting  ?" 

"I  am  no  longer  hungry  or  thirsty." 

"What  a  hare-brain  you  are,  that  you  forget  the  ceremony 
ki  fixed  for  noon." 

"What  ceremony  ?" 

"That  for  which  I  sent  my  man  Esteban  to  bring  you  out 
•tf  theBastille:  for  which  you  have  been  conducted  here:  for 
which  the  royal  chapel  has  been  decked,  the  royal  notary 
called,  and  letters  of  invitation  issued  to  the  whole  court: 
for  which,  in  short,  you  have  been  arrayed  in  a  wedding- 
suit  which  gives  you  the  splendrous  aspect  of  a  Galaor  or  a 
Don  Sancho — that  which  their  Majesties  deign  to  honof 
with  their  presence." 

"  Is  ray  dream  continuing — am  I  in  a  fever  ?"  moaned 
our  hero,  at  the  apex  of  amazement.  "For  mercy's  sake,  my 
lord  answer  me  what  ceremony  is  on  the  board  ?" 

Looking  fixedly  at  him,  the  duke  replied  :  "  For  what 
ceremony  would  you  don  a  wedding-suit,  if  not  for  your  wed- 
ding?" 

When  th«  thunderbolt  falls  on  a  man's  head,  he  does  DOS 


burst  out  hito  shrieks  and  howls:  he  is  deprived  ot  consciou*. 
ness,  motion,  and  thought.  But  under  the  apparent  apathy, 
nature  is  still  acting  :  the  briefly  interrupted  senses  and  or- 
gans re-establish  themselves  and  when  intelligence  of  the 
disaster  returns,  the  wretch  moves,  groans,  and  strives  to 
.be  himself  again.  So  was  it  with  Joel,  who  was  for  a 
Awhile  thunderstricken,  but  at  last  an  exclamation  rose 
'from  his  lips  : 
1  "  But  I  had  no  wish  to  be  married.'* 

"  You  are  but  a  child — the  King's  will  must  never  be  dis- 
puted." 

"  Is  it  the  King  wants  me  to  marry  ?" 

"  He  desires  it,  and,  as  a  respectful  subject,  you ?" 

"  Why  does  the  King  meddle  with  my  private  affairs?" 
cried  the  son  of  the  Rebel  of  Belle-Isle.  "  He  does  not 
know  me — he  has  never  seen  me." 

"Chevalier,  the  King  knows  all  the  noblemen  in  his  realm."1 

"  In  short,  why  should  there  be  a  marriage?"  said  Joel 
with  a  shrug  of  shoulders  which  rather  reflected  on  his  claim 
to  be  numbered  among  the  King's  acquaintances. 

"  Because  all  ladies  of  the  Palace  establishment  are  bound 
to  be  married." 

Oh,  so  it  is  a  lady  of  the  royal  establishment  that  I  am  to 
be  married  to — like  taking  a  pig  in  a  poke.  I  am  sorry  for 
her,  but  may  all  the  wedding-rings  in  the  world  be  welded 
into  one  suit  of  chains  in  which  to  hang  me,  but  if  she  waits 
forme  to  wed  her,  she  will  pine  in  perpetuity!  The  King  is 
mighty,  they  say.  Let  him  be  the  master  over  his  courtiers 
and  his  varlets,"  continued  the  youth,  striding  up  and  down 
the  dining-room  become  too  confined  for  him;  let  him  set 
the  law  for  all  Europe  ;  let  him  turn  the  globe  into  a  bubble 
to  obey  his  breath  ;  all  this  is  a  matter  between  him  and  hu« 
man  weakness,  servility  and  foolishness.  But  he  has  no  right 
to  dispose  of  my  will  and  feelings,  and  my  free  choice — this 
came  from  God  to  me,  and  not  to  him  by  birth  or  with  the 
crown.  I  am  a  Breton,  and  the  men  of  my  land  are  more  or 
less  like  their  ancestor  Duke  Conan  the  Headstrong." 

"Young  man,  young  man,  take  care!"  retorted  the  duke, 
concealing  his  merriment,  "you  confess  that  the  Bastille 
is  a  disagreeable  dwelling " 

"In  other  words,  I  am  to  be  dragged  back  into  it,  unless 
X  yield  to  the  royal  will?  The  bridal  chamber  or  the  prison) 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAM  IS.  195 

I  prefer  the  latter:  for  if  my  body  suffers,  my  conscience  will 
be  at  ease." 

"His  Majesty  can  do  more " 

"Yes,  I  know  he  can  send  me  to  the  scaffold  or  the  galleys. 
It  may  be  imagined  that  I  shall  quail;  but  a  great  mistake  is 
made.  I  was  ready  yesterday,  and  I  snail  be  the  same  to-day 
and  hereafter.  Does  the  King  want  a  sample  of  courage? 
Let  him  come  and  see  me  die." 

While  tli us  speaking  the  Son  of  Porthos  was  a  sight  to  bt- 
hold.  The  richness  of  his  attire,  its  laces  and  ribbons, 
went  for  nothing  in  the  effect,  no  more  than  did  his  athletic 
beauty  :  the  beauty  was  in  the  nobility  on  his  brow,  and  in 
his  look  and  his  smile. 

"He  has  spoken  his  mind,"  mused  Aramis.  "He  is  a  man, 
on  whose  shoulde  rs  my  old  Musketeer's  uniform  will  fit  as 
though  he  inherited  it  as  a  son  of  the  regiment.  It  is  a  pity  to 
throw  him  away  to  the  enemy,  but  he  must  not  remain  here 
— he  would  break  the  King  in  twain  like  a  dry  twig." 

There  was  an  instant's  silence  which  the  ex-prelate  broke 
with  the  words: 

"Come,  come,  my  lad  of  mettle,  this  is  all  very  fine,  but 
we  are  not  in  Syracuse  and  reigned  over  by  the  Tryant  Den- 
nis. Louis  the  Grand  will  not  violate  your  personal  rights 
in  any  way." 

"Excuse  me,"  said  Joel,  becoming  calm.  "I  was  wrong 
to  lose  my  temner,  and  forget  what  I  owe  you  and  the  good- 
ness of  the  King.  But  I  am  ill-accustomed  to  disguise 
what  I  feel.  And,  besides,  did  you  know  that  I " 

"If  you  yourself  did  but  know,"  interrupted  the  Ambassa- 
dor, "what  a  blessing  was  intended  for  you  !  a  love  of  a 
girl — the  most  winning  as  the  best." 

*'I  do  not  wish  to  know  her;  for  I  should  have  to  decline 
her  even  if  with  regret  were  she  endowed  with  all  human 
perfections.  You,  who  are  a  nobleman,  will  understand  me 
from  all  sworn  pledges  being  a  holy  thing  ;  I  am  engaged  to 
another.  A  man  does  not  twice  give  his  heart.  I  am  not, 
my  own  master,  for  my  heart  and  my  life  are  in  a  woman's 
hands — one  who  is  also  an  adorable  creature,  and  without 
offence  to  the  lady  you  cite,  the  best  and  most  charming  of 
her  sex." 

"But  if  the  one  of  whom  I  spoke  brings  you  a  marriage 
portion  larger  than  the  spotless  soul  in  its  ideal  envelope? 


196  Z+iE  SON  OF  PORTHUS;  UX. 

If  to  you,  a  poor  and  unknown  youth,  uncertain  of  the  f»» 
tare,  and  yet  open  to  legitimate  and  elevated  ambition,  she 
brings  glory,  fortune  and  credit — the  sovereign's  friendship, 
a  uign  post  at  court  and  a  superior  grade  in  the  army " 

"Heaven  is  my  witness,"  said  Joel,  with  a  flash  of  the  eye, 
**  that  I  often  dreamed  of  the  joy  of  marching  among  tne 
'  soldiers  of  France  if  not  the  honor  of  commanding  them  a* 
we  went  into  the  smoke  of  battle  to  seek  in  the  hostile  ranks 
my  captain's  commission  or  ray  knightly  spurs,  but,  thougu 
your  witch  should  furnish  me  with  the  means  of  realizing 
the  conception,  I  would  still  refuse." 

Aramis  rested  his  elbow  on  the  cloth  and  his  chin  in  his 
hand,  as  he  spoke  with  emphasis  on  each  syllable  and 
scanned  the  young  man  with  piercing  eyes: 

"  Even  if  this  enchantress  should  be  named  Henriette 
Yolande  Aurore  du  Tremblay  ?" 

The  hearer  was  confused,  for  joy  rushed  to  his  brain  and 
occasioned  congestion.  His  temple  veins  swelled  and  beat. 
The  floor  swam  beneath  him,  and  had  he  not  caught  at  the 
table  he  would  have  fallen. 

"What,  is  the  bride  to  be " 

"It  is  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  whom  was  offered  to  you  fo« 
your  life-companion — would  you  reject  her  ?" 

"She — oh,  heaven  help  me  !" 

"Do  you  love  her  as  she  merits  being  loved  ?" 

"Do  I  love  her  ?"  He  pronounced  this  with  fervor  m 
which  blazed  the  most  ardent  passion  that  ever  fired  a  soul. 
*'  Oil.  my  lord,"  he  faltered,  "  if  all  this  be  not  sporting  with 
me,  I  shall  die  of  bliss.  But  it  would  be  too  cruel  to  play  with 
me — better  kill  me  offhand  with  a  bullet  in  the  brain  or  a 
swordthrust  through  my  body." 

Almada  rose  and  going  to  one  of  the  windows,  he  raised 
the  curtain. 

"Look,  you  unbeliever,"  he  said. 

Boislaurier  House  faced  the  front  of  the  palace.  On  the 
open  space  between  there  was  always  a  crowd  in  any  season 
including  people  who  came  from  town  to  see  the  King  and 
court  ;  the  populace  like  the  display  of  the  great  more  than 
some  believe.  On  this  morning,  the  curious  pressed  in 
greater  number  than  commonly  over  the  pointed  pavingstones 
between  the  church  and  the  palace.  Before  the  latter,  guard- 
ed by  the  Musketeers  and  the  Swiss  Guards,  the  handsomest 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  197 

coaches  set  down  gentlemen  in  brilliant  attire  and  ladies  in 
the  latest  freaks  of  fashion.  Rumor  ran  that  they  came  to 
attend  a  marriage  at  midday  in  the  Chapel  Royal  before  the 
King  and  Queen. 

Suddenly  a  murmur  sped  through  the  crowd  : 
"The  bride,  the  bride  1  make  way — this  is  the  bride  !" 
A  coach  in  the  royal  colors  came  out  of  a  street,  in  which 
was  seated  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  in  company  with  the  head- 
mistress of  the  Queen's  ladies  and  another  lady  of  the  bed- 
chamber, with  a  gentleman,  the  master  of  ceremonies,  Mar- 
quis Montglat.  When  the  gathering  beheld  her,  in  her  white 
satin  costume,  the  long  white  veil  floating  down  her  shoul- 
ders, and  the  symbolical  orange-blooms  in  her  hair,  but  one 
voice  arose  amid  the  clapping  of  hands  :  "  How  lovely  she 
looks  !" 

She  was  beautiful,  indeed,  if  only  for  the  expression  of  un- 
limited felicity  to  be  read  on  her  ravishing  features. 
Reeling  like  a  drunken  man,  Joel  fell  upon  a  seat. 
"Do  I  continue  to  dream?"  he  asked  himself.       "Will  I 
never  awake  ?     Or  am  I  going  mad  ?" 

The  Duke  of  Almada  clapped  him  on  the  shoulder,  saying  : 
"Well,  descendant  of  the  Headstrong  Conan,  are  you  still 
determined  to  die  in  bachelorhood  and  obstinacy  ?" 

"Who  says  that  we  love  one  another  ?"  questioned  the  Son 
of  Porthos,  instead  of  replying. 

"Who  would  have  said  so,  but  the  lady  herself?" 
"And  does  she  consent  to  marry  me?"  again   interrogated 
the  youth,  whose  voice  slightly  trembled. 

"Did  you  think  that  they  were  dragging  her  to  the  altar?" 
''But  how  has  she  come  to  marry  me,  without  a  name?" 
went  on  the  other  with  distrust. 

"You  will  pardon  me,"  said  the  old  noble;  "  you  have  a 
name  and  a  title;  you  are  henceforth  the  Chevalier  de  Loc- 
taaria,  according  to  the  King's  good  pleasure." 
"But  I  have  done  nothing  to  deserve  this  favor!" 
"  Deserve  it  hereafter.    I  have  answered  to  the  sovereign 
for  your  zeal  to  serve  him.    The  war  is  not  over — a  decisive 
campaign  is  preparing  on  the  Rhine,  and  there  you  may  win 
your  spurs/' 

"I  vow  to  heaven,"  exclaimed  Joel,  "that  his  Majesty  will 
not  have  a  more  devoted  soldier  in  his  ranks  more  devoted 
to  the  glory  of  his  flag.  Furnish  me  with  the  occasion  to 


198  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OX. 

show  what  I  can  do,  and,  as  our  old  Armorican  song  has  it, 
1  will  prove  that  danger  and  I  are  two  lions  born  the  same 
day,  but  I  am  the  elder  and  the  master." 

His  unusual  stature  expanded  to  its  full  development;  a 
breath  of  warlike  enthusiasm  seemed  to  throw  up  tiie  mass 
of  his  hair;  his  countenance  beamed  with  flame  as  from  the 
cannon  mouth,  and  his  tones  rang  as  from  the  bugle  sounding 
the  charge. 

"I  shall  remember  your  words,"  said  the  old  duke  gravely: 
"though  I  am  sure  that  I  need  not  remind  a  gentleman  01 
the  sanctity  of  an  oath.  His  Majesty,"  he  went  on  in  a  less 
solemn  tone,  "had  wrongs  to  repair  towards  the  family  of 
Mdlle.  du  Tremblay,  so  that  nothing  should  astonish  in  his 
bestowing  on  the  dear  child  the  husband  of  whom  she 
dreamed.  And  there  is  nothing  farther  astonishing  in  that 
husband  being  provided  by  the  royal  initiative  with  the 
means  to  hold  a  proper  position  at  court." 

As  though  to  efface  from  his  hearer's  mind  the  very  shadow 
of  mistrust,  he  concluded  affectionately  :  "  Besides,  I  do 
not  allow  you  to  imagine  scruples  where  Aurore,the  para- 
gon of  virtue  and  honor,  has  not  deemed  it  proper  to  raise 
any  obstacles  ?'* 

M.  de  Boislaurier  entering  at  this  juncture,  the  diplomat- 
ist presented  him  to  his  guest  as  "  One  of  my  excellent 
friends  who  is  anxious  to  become  yours." 

They  shook  hands  warmly. 

"  My  lord  Duke,"  said  the  new  arrival,  "allow  me  to  re- 
mind you  that  the  King  is  waiting." 

"  That  is  true.  And  I  forget  all  about  him  while  chat- 
ting. Let  us  be  off,  chevalier.  Quick,  Bazin,  our  hats, 
gloves  and  swords.  "  Make  the  King  wait  !"  he  added  with 
comic  fright.  "The  Lord  forbid  !  offenders  have  been  put 
in  the  Bastille  for  milder  faults  than  that.  And  it  is  not 
only  the  King  that  is  kept  waiting  but  the  Queen  of  Beauty. 
That  is  a  crime  to  womanhood  a  thousand  times  more  wicked 
that  treason." 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  199 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

ONE  KIND  OF  ROYAL  DIVORCE. 

AFTER  the  wedding,  performed  with  utmost  pomp,  the 
happy  pair  were  taken  in  a  royal  carriage  to  Boislaurier 
House,  where  Aramis's  friend  had  placed  the  first  floor  at  their 
orders. 

Aurore  and  Joel  arrived  there,  bewildered  by  the  day  so 
overcrowded  with  divers  adventures  ihrough  which  they 
were  driven  blindfold,  it  might  be  said.  Judge  if  they  were 
in  haste  to  relate  to  each  other  what  they  had  done  and  ex- 
perienced since  their  parting,  and  try  to  understand  the 
events  of  which  they  suffered  the  results  without  knowing  the 
reasons. 

Unfortunately,  Lady  Montausier  accompanied  the  new 
lady  of  the  royal  household  in  order  to  edify  her  on  her  new 
duties. 

"To-morrow  your  service  will  commence,"  she  said;  "it 
is  urgent  that  you  should  attend  early  at  the  palace  whence 
you  cannot  go  away  unless  by  written  leave." 

"What's  this?  broke  in  the  newly  married  man,  "forbid- 
den to  leave  the  royal  residence  ?" 

"Certainly  :  the  Queen  may  be  seriously  attacked  and 
want  help  at  any  moment." 

4<It  seems  to  me  that  it  would  be  better  to  keep  a  doctor 
and  sick-nurse  at  hand  on  regular  wages,"  grumbled  our 
hero.  ''How  long  does  this  service  last  ?" 

"Three  months  at  a  time;  still  you  ought  not  to  go  far  a- 
way  from  the  court,  as  some  attendant  may  fall  ill,  and  you 
ought  to  be  ready  to  replace  her,  if  you  keep  in  favor." 

"You  seem  to  be  very  frightened  about  illness,"  said  Joel 
in  an  audible  whisper.  "Listen,  my  good  dame,  so  kind  as 
to  give  my  wife  these  lessons.  If  she  must  begin  this  task 
early  to-morrow,  you  will  understand  that  she  and  I  have  a 
lot  of  private  matters  to  discuss.  So  you  will  overlook  my 
apparent  rudeness  in  suggesting  that  your  presence  will 
probably  be  more  in  request  over  the  way  than  in  this 
house." 

Mdme.  de  Montausier  went  off  in  high  dudgeon,  as  be- 


THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

came  an  old  lady  of  sixty,  and  left  the  pair,  at  length  alone; 
But,  however  bold  in  dismissing  the  Queen's  first  lady,  out 
hero  was  timid  and  embarrassed  when  beside  Aurore  and 
scarcely  dared  to  speak. 

"What  delight  do  I  feel  under  your  protection,"  said  she. 

"Since  I  was  a  child  at  my  mother's  knee,"  returned  Joel, 
"when  I  was  happy  without  knowing  it,  I  do  not  recall  in  all 
my  life  one  moment  comparable  to  this  !" 

For  awhile,  they  remained  mute,  absorbed  in  reciprocal 
contemplation. 

"You  are  fair  as  an  angel,  Aurore,"  said  the  man  at 
last. 

"And  you  appear  to  me  as  the  archangel,  with  the  flaming 
sword,  from  my  having  seen  you  twice  guarding  me  with 
your  arm,"  she  rejoined. 

The  windows  were  open  »  the  night  was  calm,  the  air 
pure  and  the  firmament  splendid.  Only  vague  murmurs 
crossed  at  intervals  the  silence  of  the  slumberous  night. 
The  wind  wafted  scents  either  sharp  or  heavy  as  they  came 
from  the  forest  or  the  garden.  They  were  sitting  side  by 
side,  as  they  sat  on  the  bench  on  the  Celestins  wharf  when 
the  ruffians  of  Colonel  Cordbuff  assaulted  them.  The  mem- 
ory of  that  attack  struck  her  and  she  shuddered. 

"Why  do  you  tremble,  darling  ?"  inquired  Joel.  "Here, 
we  have  net  to  dread  the  storm  or  treachery.  Let  ou* 
spirits  rest  in  trust." 

"Yes,"  responded  Aurore,  "let  us  forget  the  wicked.  Wa 
should  enjoy  this  unique  and  gladsome  hour  without  fear  01 
trouble.'* 

With  a  gentle  movement  she  let  her  head  sink  upon  his 
shoulder,  while  her  eyelids  drooped,  but  the  Breton  started 
up  as  her  lips  almost  were  reached  by  his  own. 

"What  is  the  matter  ?"  asked  the  wife,  reopening  her  as- 
tonished eyes. 

At  this  moment,  a  spurred  heel  rang  again  on  the  pave- 
ment of  the  square,  and  a  vigorous  blow  was  struck  on  the 
door  panel.  A  powerful  voice  was  heard  to  shout  :  "  On 
the  King's  service  !"  before  which  no  one  had  the  right  to 
keep  his  door  bolted,  locked  or  barred. 

Aurore  recoiled. 

'*  What  can  that  be  ?"  she  faltered. 

"  No  doubt,  it  is  some  message  from  the  King  *or  M.  dt 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAM  IS.  aoi 

Boislaurier,  or  the  Duke  of  Almada,"  replied  Joel,  though 
he  was  not  at  ease. 

They  remained  apart,  staring  at  each  other,  while  two  or 
three  minutes  passed.  At  length  they  heard  the  slow  step 
of  the  steward  approaching.  A  hand  gently  tapped  on  the 
door. 

"  Who  is  there?"  inquired  the  Knight  of  Locmaria. 

"  A  messenger  from  the  King,"  replied  Bazin,  to  whom 
the  gentleman  opened  the  door  for  him  to  enter. 

"  Lieutenant  Maupertius  of  the  Royal  Muskeeters,"  he  an- 
nounced. 

In  the  shadow  on  the  landing  appeared  the  manly  form 
of  the  guardsman,  partly  draped  in  his  cloak  ;  behind  him 
were  Aramis's  emotionless  face  and  the  more  inquiring  one 
of  Boislaurier.  On  the  threshold  the  soldier  saluted  the  lady 
profoundly  :  then  advancing  towards  our  hero,  he  presented 
a  large  note  with  the  royal  seal  and  said  :  "On  behalf  of 
the  King." 

Joel  broke  the  seal,  opened  the  envelope  and  drew  forth 
a  parchment  which  he  ran  his  eyes  over:  then  he  uttered  an 
outcry:  "An  appointment  as  ensign  in  the  new  artillery  com- 
pany forming  at  Douai."  He  turned  towards  Aurore  with 
his  countenance  beaming  with  pride  and  delight,  to  say  : 
"  Think  of  that  !  an  officership — I  am  an  officer  !  Oh,  our 
jtind — our  excellent  King  !" 

Maupertuis  took  a  second  note  from  his  pocket,  and  hand- 
ed this  also  to  the  speaker,  saying:  "By  order  of  the  King  !** 

The  latter  treated  this  as  he  had  done  the  former,  but  the 
exclamation  it  drew  from  him  was  not  pleasure  like  the  first. 
He  read  the  King's  orders  over  again  with  astonishment 
akin  to  stupor.  He  examined  each  line  and  weighed  every 
word  by  itself.  He  had  turned  whiter  than  the  paper  held 
in  his  shaking  hand. 

"What  is  it  ?"  asked  the  alarmed  woman. 

By  way  of  answer  the  Knight  of  Locmaria  read  aloud  : 

On  receiving  this  present  order,  the  Chevalier  de  Locmaria 
will  mount  horse  and  ride  at  speed  to  report  at  Paris  to  the 
Minister  of  War,  who  will  hand  him  despatches  for  Marshal 
Crequy,  now  in  his  camp  before  Freiburg,  in  Brisgau.  Under 
no  pretext  whatsoever  is  there  to  be  delay  in  the  execution 
of  this  order.  Our  Lieutenant  of  the  Musketeers,  M.  de 


joa  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR. 

Maupertuis,  is  charged  to  see  that  the  Chevalier  de  Loe> 
man  a  is  started  duiy  upon  his  journey. 

" (Signed)  Louis." 

The  wedded  couple  stared  at  one  another  in  bewilder 
Kent. 

"But  the  Lord  forbid  that  this  should  be  possible,"  mut- 
tered Joel. 

"VVnat  should  not  be  possible  ?"  haughtily  demanded  the 
Musketeer,  who  probably  knew  that  he  stood  before  the 
duelist  who  had  made  a  vacancy  in  his  corp 

"What  his  Majesty  requests." 

"His  Majesty  does  not  request — he  commands,"  replied 
the  successor  of  d'Artagnan  with  the  same  stiffness. 

"  But  his  Majesty  cannot  think — he  must  have  forgot- 
ten— The  devil  take  me!  I  cannot  quit  in  the  evening  the 
woman  whom  I  married  only  this  morning  !" 

The  piteous  accent  and  the  despairing  mien  of  the  poor 
fellow  touched  even  the  officer,  who  said  : 

"I  appreciate  all  there  is  painful  in  what  is  commanded 
you  ;  but  you  are  a  soldier,  sir,  and  you  should  know  that 
a  soldier's  first  duty  is  obedience." 

"  Still,  take  me  to  the  King  !"  implored  the  young  gentle- 
man ;  "  I  must  speak  to  him,  explain  to  him — he  will  hearken 
to  my  prayers  and  grant  a  delay." 

"The  King  has  retired  for  the  night,  and  nobody  is  al- 
lowed to  see  him  until  his  hour  of  rising.  At  that  hour, 
you  ought  to  be  on  the  road  to  Freiburg." 

"  But  would  you  have  me  take  up  the  march  in  this  dress?" 
remonstrated  Joel,  glancing  on  his  wedding  garments. 

Almada  came  forward  to  say  :  "  My  dear  chevalier,  in 
your  dressing  room  is  a  complete  outfit  for  a  chevalier,  such 
as  a  cornet  would  wear  in  the  cavalry  ;  besides  there  is  the 
sword  which  you  handed  to  the  constables  and  which  was 
restored  by  them,  an  attention  which  is  unusual  in  those 
gentry  and  a  surprise  which  I  reserved  to  you." 

"  And  the  pick  ot  my  horses  in  the  stable  is  yours,"  added 
Boislaurier. 

"Alas!"  said  the  ambassador,  taking  the  husband's  hand, 
*  You  see  me  afflicted.  Pardon  an  old  man  who  is  the 
cause  of  all  tins.  Not  suspecting  that  it  would  be  so  soon 
brought  to  the  test,  it  was  I  who  had  the  unlucky  idea  of 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAM  IS,  909 

bot  sting  to  the  King  of  the  ardent  zeal  with  which  you  burnt 
to  serve  him.  I  must  have  been  too  eloquent  in  picturing  how 
impatient  you  are  to  prove  your  gallantry.  I  was  wrong  to 
repeat  these  words  you  uttered  on  your  wedding  morn." 

"  O  ),  then,  the  chevalier  has  made  an  engagement,"  in» 
quired  tiie  young  wife. 

"To  sacrifice  everything  to  his  King  and  country,"  replied 
the  diplomatist.  The  chevalier  hung  his  head  while  the  old 
plotter  continued:  "Consequently  the  King,  wanting  a  mes- 
senger on  whom  he  could  rely,  fixed  on  our  friend,  from  my 
language,  to  favor  him  with  this  token  of  his  esteem." 

The  Breton  looked  up  at  him  supplicatorily.  But  he  went 
*n,  after  a  slight  pause,  "His  Majesty  cannot  have  calcu- 
lated what  such  a  separation  would  cost  you  at  such  a  mo- 
inent,  although  it  is  but  temporary;  and  if  it  were  allowed 
we  to  make  my  voice  heard,  I  am  certain  that  he  would  re- 
roke  his  decision.  Unfortunately,  we  have  no  time  to  act 
thus." 

"Give  me  some  advice,"  muttered  Joel. 

"My  child,"  said  the  old  noble,  shaking  his  white  head,  **a 
nan  of  heart  and  wits  like  yourself  should  at  such  times  take 
counsel  of  himself." 

"To  make  a  long  matter  short,"  interpolated  the  lieuten- 
ant, "what  am  I  to  report  to  his  Majesty  ?" 

"You  will  announce  to  him,"  Aurore  took  it  upon  herself 
to  reply,  "mat  his  orders  will  be  executed.  Do  you  be- 
lieve, Joel,"  she  continued  while  her  husband  looked  at  her 
in  astonishment,  "that  I  love  you  so  little  and  take  so  little 
pride  in  you  that  I  would  try  to  hold  you  back?  Honor  or- 
ders and  we  must  obey.  This  new  parting  will  cost  me  many 
tears,  and  heaven  alone  will  know  how  sad  and  lonesome  I 
shall  feel  in  your  absence  in  this  court  where  I  shall  be  left. 
But  you  offered  your  service  to  the  King,  and  it  is  not 
right  that  you  should  draw  back  when  he  requires  them. 
Go  and  make  ready,  therefore,  without  weakness  or  hesita- 
tion. The  thought  that  we  are  both  doing  our  duty,  you,  on 
the  journey,  I,  in  my  solitude,  will  console  us." 

Half  and  hour  subsequently,  the  actors  in  this  domestic 
tragedy,  came  down  into  the  yard  of  the  Boislaurier  House 
where  a  groom  was  holding  a  pair  of  horses  by  the  bridle.  The 
wedded  couple  were  arm-in-arm:  the  woman's  eyes  were  dry 
and  her  visage  calm,  foi  she  wept  inwardly  in  order  that 


304  THE  S9N  OF  PORTHOS;  OK, 

she  should  not  shake  her  husband's  courage.  He  appeared 
no  less  resigned.  He  looked  handsome  in  his  military  har- 
ness: a  breastplate  and  buff  gauntlets,  a  steel  gorget,  a  blue 
coat  laced  with  silver  at  every  seam,  scarlet  breeches,  high 
boots  and  a  hat  witfi  a  red  plume.  The  sword  of  Porthos 
again  was  in  a  fit  place  at  his  side. 

"Chevalier,  I  have  selected  my  best  war-horse,"  observed 
M.  de  Boislaurier. 

"And  as  you  will  'iv-ant  a  lackey,"  added  Almada,  "I  give 
you  Esteban,  one  of  my  faithful  Spaniards,  who,  however, 
speaks  French  as  well  as  any  Parisian  citizen.  He  is  a  brave, 
skillful  fellow  who  can  help  you  in  any  work." 

Joel  bowed  his  thanks. 

"If  you  please,"  said  wfaupertuis,  "  I  will  accompany  you 
to  the  town's  end,  to  give  you  instructions." 

Joel  leaped  into  the  sadctle:  the  two  married  ones  regarded 
each  other  with  deep  melancholy  but  with  supreme  ser- 
enity of  heart. 

"You  are  not  traveling  alone,"  breathed  the  young  woman, 
"for  you  take  my  soul  with  you." 

''Aurore,  you  are  great  and  noble,"  whispered  he,  as  she 
held  out  her  hand  as  if  to  point  out  his  road. 

"God  will  bring  you  home  to  your  dear  one  again  !  We 
shall  meet  again  !  Remember  that  you  will  find  me  what 
you  left  me — your  wife,  proud  to  wear  your  name,  and 
happy  that  we  love  one  anotner." 

The  Son  of  Porthos  leaned  over  and,  catching  her  round 
the  waist,  he  lifted  her  upon  his  saddlebow  without  an  ef- 
fort 

*'  Yes,  we  shall  meet  again,"  he  repeated  :  "  God  shield 
fou,  my  adored  wife,  till  then  ;"  and  the  last  syllable  of  the 
wish  died  away  on  their  lips  uniting  in  a  kiss. 

Already  true  to  instructions,  Joel  rode  straight  to  the  of- 
fices of  the  War  Minister,  but  Louvois,  who  had  been  kept 
late  at  St.  Germain's  overnight,  would  not  receive  any  one 
until  noon.  Thinking  of  the  Widow  of  Scarron,  the  Knight 
of  Locmaria,  heedless  of  a  kind  of  remonstrance  from  Este- 
ban, remounted  and  proceeded  direct  to  the  Gray  House. 

The  lady  welcomed  him,  thomrh  her  surprise  was  great 
to  see  him  in  the  soldierly  attire. 

"  I  am  the  King's  soldier,"  he  said,  explaining  what  ha* 
•ecorred  to  him.  "  I  come  to  say  good-bye  to  you.  our 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  *>5 

good  angel,  our  providence,  and  thank  you  for  all  yon  hare 
done  for  us  both.  You  must  have  had  a  hand  in  the  good 
fortune  showered  on  us,  for  I  presume  that  it  was  due  to 
you  that  my  wife  obtained  a  footing  in  the  court." 

"  Let  me  see  :  you  are  the  Chevalier  de  Locmaria  and 
you  have  married  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  ?" 

"You  know  all  this — but  with  what  an  odd  look  you  stare 
at  me  !  any  one  would  think  that  you  ware  not  glad  for  my 
happiness.  It  is  true  there  are  crosses  with  it,"  he  went  on, 
shaking  his  head.  "  We  had  barely  time  to  exchange  half- 
a-dozen  words  before  an  order  from  the  King  dropped  on 
us,  and  here  I  am,  obliged  to  ride  off  in  the  first  peep  of  the 
honeymoon." 

"  Sit  down  there,  M.  Joel,"  said  the  Widow  Scarron,  in- 
dicating a  seat  in  front  of  hers,  "  and  tell  me  the  whole  af- 
fair with  all  the  particulars.  The  sympathy  you  inspire 
in  me  makes  me  curious  to  know  to  the  least  detail  this  event 
which  I  so  little  anticipated." 

When  he  had  again  but  more  fully  related  the  story,  the 
lady,  who  had  listened  with  religious  silence,  muttered  to 
herself  :  "He  is  speaking  in  good  faith.  Does  your  wife 
love  you  ?"  she  inquired  with  abruptness. 

The  Breton  burst  into  a  peal  of  hearty  laughter. 

"That  is  a  good  joke,"  he  replied,  "certainly  not  more 
than  I  love  her.  To  doubt  her  love  would  be  to  offend  the 
most  virtuous  heart  in  the  world.  But  I  am  at  a  loss  to  un- 
derstand— "  he  said,  with  surprise  in  which  anxiety  began  to 
show. 

"  Have  you  any  reason  to  distrust  this  Duke  of  Almada, 
the  principal  engineer  in  this  match-making?"she  interrupted 
him. 

"Why  should  I  distrust  a  good  old  man  like  him  ?  He  is 
the  best  and  most  generous  of  men." 

"You  cannot  suspect  him  of  any  wish  to  deceive  you  ?" 

"To  what  end — by  what  means — under  the  sway  of  what 
interest  ?" 

"Has  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay  ever  spoken  to  you  about  th» 
King  ?"  proceeded  Widow  Scarron,  after  a  silence.  "I  mean 
in  any  peculiar  way  ?" 

"Never  !  what  a  funny  question  !  why  do  you  put  me  to 
the  question  thus  ?"  His  voice  was  choked  as  by  some  sud- 
den pain  :  not  that  he  suffered  any,  but  he  feared  he  should 


206  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

through  the  premonition  of  misfortune.  The  lady  scrutin* 
ized  him  attentively,  muttering  to  herself. 

"Such  a  clear  eye,  honest  features,  frank  speech,  and  this 
real  and  sincere  grief  are  not  the  traits  of  husbands  who 
traffic  in  their  wives'  honor.  He  may  be  a  victim,  but  not  a 
guilty  accomplice.  My  friend,"  she  said  to  the  chevalier, 
"you  do  wrong  to  feel  alarmed.  I  do  not  really  know  what 
could  have  been  in  my  head  to  pester  you  thus  with  my  silly 
questions.  Forget  them  and  pardon  me-  There  are  times  when 
the  blue  devils  dance  in  one's  brain  and  speak  by  one's  mouth." 

The  Breton  was  yet  boyish,  as  prompt  to  cool  as  to  heat. 
He  sighed  Heavily  in  relief  at  these  final  words. 

"  Good  again  !"  he  exclaimed  in  serenity.  "  You  fright* 
ened  me,  though,  for  I  was  going  crazy,  I  believe.  To  think 
that  I  was  on  the  point  of  suspecting  the  most  perfect  ot 
human  creatures  !" 

*'  Well,  to  punish  yourself  for  that  wicked  doubt,"  return- 
ed the  royal  governess,  affectionately,  "  you  must  still  more 
dearly  love  her  who  is  so  worthy  of  your  passion,  consecrate 
the  whole  of  your  life  to  her  and  watch  over  her  happiness 
as  a  miser  does  his  treasure.  Go  away  in  confidence,"  she  add- 
ed, holding  out  her  hand.  "  Go  quickly,  too,  that  you 
may  the  sooner  return." 

"  Thus  did  I  determine,"  said  our  hero,  rising.  **  I  am 
in  haste  to  get  through  with  a  disagreeable  piece  of  business 
before  I  quit  Paris  with  all  speed.  But  promise  me  one 
thing  before  I  leave  you  :  in  my  absence,  watch  over  my  darl- 
ing." 

*'l  will  do  better  than  hover  around  her — I  will  keep  by 
her  and  confer  with  her  about  vou.'* 

"You  must  yourself  see  that  you  are  an  angel  !" 

If  any  peril  threatens  her  whom  I  call  your  treasure,  I 
will  warn  you  of  the  plot  so  that  you,  whose  duty  it  is,  shall 
defend  her." 


CHAPTER  XXIL 

THE  BLACK  VELVET  MASK. 

OM  leaving  the  widow's,  Joel  proceeded  to  Bouloi  Street, 
to  use  up  the  hour  before  him  until  Louvois  should  receive 


THE  DEATH  01-  ARAM  IS.  **) 

him,  and  to  acquit  himself  of  the  mission  Pierre  Lesage  had 
entrusted  to  him. 

The  first  person  he  met  had  pointed  out  the  right  road, 
and  he  soon  found  the  house  in  the  street,  where  the  ladies 
of  the  court  had  gone  to  consult  the  oracle.  By  day  the 
whole  scene  was  so  different  that  Joel  did  not  clearly  recog- 
nize that  here  he  had  defended  Mdme.  de  Montespan  and 
hurled  the  confederate  of  the  Manicarde  into  the  gutter. 

Even  in  the  broad  light,  the  dwelling  had  not  a  less  mys- 
terious appearance.  But  the  fittings  of  the  pythoness  ha<J 
been  removed,  and  in  the  room  where  she  had  performed 
her  conjurations  nothing  was  left  but  an  old  table,  not  worth 
burning,  at  which  was  seated  an  old  hag  and  a  man  was 
standing.  He  had  brought  in  a  pot  of  wine  and  two  pewter 
goblets  were  there  to  receive  its  contents;  they  had  been  play- 
ing cards  and  the  winner  had  brought  the  liquor  now  at 
hand. 

The  man  was  the  Walton  mentioned  in  the  case  of  the 
Poisoners  and  he  was  ruddy,  red  in  hair  as  a  fox,  with  large 
teeth  under  a  bristling  moustache;  his  pale  blue  eyes  seemed 
of  glass — so  cold  and  unfeeling.  The  world  had  acted  like 
Joel  of  late — that  is,  kicked  him  into  the  gutter  and  kept 
him  there,  for  he  was  unkempt,  dirty  and  tattered. 

They  were  beginning  to  drink  when  they  heard  the  stepi 
of  Joel,  who  had  found  the  door  ajar  after  the  man's  en- 
trance and  boldly  intruded. 

"Who  can  come  in  here  like  that  ?'*  demanded  the  man, 
feeling  for  the  sword  which  no  doubt  had  been  sold  for  old 
iron. 

"It  is  some  horseman,"  replied  the  woman,  "  for  I  hear 
the  jingle  of  spurs  and  the  scratching  of  the  sword-scabbard 
along  the  wall." 

"This  looks  bad,"  muttered  the  other,  "though  I  hoped 
the  matter  had  blown  over,  especially  since  Therese  ran 
away.  She  may  have  been  taken  and  told  of  us,  eh?  How- 
ever, they  can  get  no  proof  against  us.  J  have  destroyed 
what  existed  when  I  was  caged,  and  then  they  could  not 
hold  me." 

The  sound  of  steps  approached,  and  a  lusty  voice  began 
to  shout  in  the  deserted  corridor  :  "House,  ho  !  is  there  no- 
body at  home?  let  me  see  some  Christian  soul  who  will 
ply  a  brother  in  a  fog  with  enlightenment  ?" 


«o8  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR. 

"Singular  address,"  muttered  Walton.  "Yet  it  may  be  » 
spy  of  the  police  come  to  extract  some  clue  to  Therese 
The  Lord  only  knows  what  she  may  have  dealt  in  with- 
out  my  knowledge  since  I  was  knocked  on  the  head  by 
that  cowardly  giant."  He  leaned  towards  the  hag,  saying  : 
"Mind  what  you  say;  I  am  the  public-writer  Latour,  from 
the  corner  :  you  are  the  sick-nurse  Bosse,  and  we  have  just 
moved  in  and  know  no  more  than  Adam  and  Eve  who  were 
the  previous  tenants." 

With  a  few  rapid  turns  of  the  hands  he  executed  some 
changes  in  the  arrangement  of  his  hair  and  moustache,  and 
awaited  the  new-comer. 

The  old  woman  rose  and  as  she  went  to  the  door,  she 
Bcreamed: 

"Do  not  be  so  noisy  there,  you  !  here  I  am." 

She  opened  the  door  without  hastening  so  as  to  give  her 
companion  time  to  finish  his  alteration  in  appearance. 

Toel  strode  in  without  a  pause. 

Good  people,  excuse  this  riot,  but  I  have  not  a  minute 
to  lose.  And  your  dark  corridor  is  as  difficult  to  navigate 
as  a  sea  of  ink." 

Walton  stared  at  him  with  hate  and  rage,  for  he  recog- 
nized the  tall  man  who  had  not  only  refused  him  assistance 
to  nab  the  three  ladies,  but  had  felled  him  to  the  mire.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  new  soldier  of  the  King  did  not  give  more 
than  a  glance  to  the  scamp  who  presented  nothing  to  inter* 
est  him. 

"Captain,"  said  the  two  together,  "we  are  at  your  or- 
ders." 

"I  only  want  a  little  information  :  two  words  about  a  girl 
or  woman  named  Lesage — Therese  Lesage." 

The  man's  face  expressed  surprise  not  to  be  concealed 
though  he  was  an  adept  at  self-control  :  but  he  turned  to  the 
woman,  and  said  "  Therese  Lesage?  do  you  know  any  one 
of  that  name,  Mother  Bosse  ?" 

"  We  have  only  just  moved  in,"  was  the  hag's  reply,  "and 
I  do  not  know  any  of  the  neighbors  or  who  was  liring  here 
before  we  came." 

'*  You  do  not  know  who  lived  here  ?" 

"  We  do  not  want  to  know  them  :  they  were  a  bad  lot, 
who  told  fortunes  and  who  sold  drugs,  and  the  police  routed 
them  out.  I  never  heard  that  name  before,  eh,  Latour  ?** 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAM  IS.  20p 

'*  Is  there  no  other  tenant,  who  has  been  here  all  along? 
it  seems  a  large  house,"  persisted  the  inquirer. 

"  I  am  going  to  take  lodgers — I  occupy  the  whole  house," 
returned  the  woman  with  a  kind  of  pride. 

Joel  looked  his  defeat. 

"I  already  knew  that  this  person  whom  I  have  nevel 
seen,"  he  said,  "may  have  strong  reasons  to  keep  concealed  ; 
but  I  do  not  wish  her  any  evil.  I  do  not  come  from  any 
enemy  of  hers,  but  from  her  father,  who  died  a  short  time 
ago,  in  the  Bastille,  almost  under  my  eyes." 

At  the  news  of  the  death  of  Lesage,  the  pretended  English- 
man's glassy  eyes  flashed  with  a  serpent's  glitter,  but  Joel 
did  not  notice  it  as  he  pursued  : 

"  The  unfortunate  prisoner  charged  me  to  hand  to  her  an 
article  which  is  of  some  value,  I  was  given  to  understand — 
a  locket  in  brass  or  gilt " 

At  these  words,  the  fire  of  greed  blazed  up  in  the  old  wom- 
an's eyes  and  she  was  about  to  speak,  but  with  a  terrifying 
glance  the  man  froze  the  words  on  her  lips. 

"This  medallion,"  said  Joel,  "contains  a  paper  said  to  be 
of  capital  importance  to  this  Lesage  girl — something  like  a 
weapon  of  defence,  if  I  clearly  understood  it.  It  is  therefore 
urgent  that  I  should  find  her,  so  as  to  acquit  myself  of  my 
undertaking." 

"Captain,"  replied  the  man  in  a  cracked  voice,  "I  should 
be  happy  to  help  you  in  the  matter,  but  it  is  no  use  my  cud- 
geling my  brains,  I  cannot  furnish  you  with  the  slightest  clue. 
But  if  she  were  one  of  the  internal  crew  who  held  witches' 
sabbaths  in  this  house,  I  suggest  that  you  should  apply  to  the 
police.  The  house  of  their  Chief  M.  de  Lareynie  is  only  a  few 
doors  off." 

"This  honest  fellow  is  quite  right,"  mused  the  inquirer. 
"And  Huguenin  the  jailer  hit  the  nail  on  the  head.  She  will 
have  left  Paris,  and  perhaps  the  kingdom.  This  couple  seem  | 
truthful,  although  they  are  not  prepossessing  and  the  man's 
visage  is  a  patent  of  rascality.  Ought  I  question  the  neigh- 
bors? no,  for  I  have  no  time,  since  it  is  going  on  for  midday, 
and  Minister  Louvois  will  expect  me.  After  calling  on  him, 
1  must  take  the  road.  When  I  return  from  Freiburg  I  will 
resume  this  errand,  which  weighs  upon  me,  with  more  activi- 
ity.  And  if  I  cannot  reach  the  intended  depository  of  tkic 
locket,  Faith !  I  shall  daatroy  it,  paper  and  all." 


THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

To  the  joy  of  the  couple,  he  proceeded  towards  the  street 
As  he  was  crossing  the  threshold  he  almost  ran  against  a 
woman  who  was  on  the  point  of  entering.  She  was 
masked  in  black  velvet,  and  \vas  wrapped  in  a  voluminous 
black  silk  mantle.  The  gentleman  stood  aside  to  allow  her 
to  pass.  It  seemed  to  him  that  she  uttered  a  faint  scream  on 
seeing  him,  but  that  might  be  only  from  the  fear  that  there 
would  have  been  a  collision.  However,  she  plunged  into  the 
dark  passage  with  a  light  step,  leaving  behind  her  a  cloud  of 
perfume,  which  had  previously  struck  the  provincial  youth. 

"Where  did  I  smell  that  before?  where  have  I  seen  that 
tall  and  elegant  figure  ?  where  did  I  catch  the  glance  of 
that  bold  and  fascinating  eye?" 

He  turned  round  instinctively,  but  the  lady  had  disap^ 
peared  in  the  very  path  which  he  had  trodden.  The  way 
was  not  wholly  unfamiliar  to  her,  but  she  missed  the  black  boy 
who  had  ushered  her  into  the  fortune-teller's  presence,  and 
she  stopped  at  the  door  of  the  room. 

"He,  in  this  den — what  business  had  he  here  ?"  she  said  to 
herself  in  astonishment. 

While  she  was  hesitating,  the  man  and  woman  who  had 
received  the  squire  so  churlishly,  were  disputing. 

"What  a  blunder  you  have  made,"  reproached  the  hag: 
"we  might  have  'nailed*  that  locket,  and  sold  that  secret 
paper  to  whoever  is  most  concerned  to  suppress  it,  and  that 
would  have  provided  funds  for  our  flight.  If  tnat  game 
would  not  work,  we  might  have  handed  it  to  Therese,  who 
is  as  generous  as  the  theif's  daughter  usually  is,  and  one 
way  or  the  other  we  should  have  made  a  good  thing  of  the 
affair." 

"Tnat  is  all  right,"  returned  the  other,  with  a  shrug  of 
the  shoulders,  "unless  the  whole  thing  is  a.  fable  to  trap  us. 
I  know  this  fellow  to  be  a  prowler  whom  I  mistook  for  one 
of  our  kidney  the  night  when  I  was  following  home  the  three 
great  ladies  who  would  have  been  our  reliance  in  a  rainy  day. 
Instead  of  joining  hands  with  me  and  despoiling  the  court 
hussies,  he  upset  me  into  the  channel — curses  on  him  !  that 
is  more  like  a  bully  of  the  police  than  the  gentleman  of  leis- 
ure that  he  affects  to  be.  Besides,  who  would  be  in,  the  Bas- 
tille to  see  old  Lesage  kick  the  bucket,  but  apriso  i  guard  or 
such?  The  sleuth-hounds  of  Larevnie  have  so  many  faces  that 
We  must  be  aways  on  our  guard."  He  filled  his  cup  from  the 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  21% 

pot, and  continued:  "We  are  the  last  of  the  old  gang  in 
town.  La  Voisin  was  burnt  alive:  Pierre  Lesage  came  to  grief 
as  you  heard  that  person  tell  us  ;"  he  made  a  malignant 
face  ;  "  their  daughter  has  crossed  the  frontier,  waiting  for 
us  to  join  her,  especially  me,  her  sweetheart;  the  rest  are 
scattered — in  fact,we  are  completely  broken  up.  We  expected 
to  be  let  alone,  as  we  are  thought  small  fry,  not  worth  hauling 
in  by  the  net ;  but  we  may  be  under  the  ban,  and  this  is  as 
likely  as  not  a  spy " 

"Spy  or  no  spy,  we  have  missed  a  chance.  If  only  he 
came  again — "  grumbled  the  hag. 

Three  light  taps  were  heard  on  the  door,  and  caused  the 
couple  to  look  at  each  other  in  the  same  anxiety  as  before. 
The  knocking  was  repeated,  more  loudly  than  at  first  and  a 
woman's  voice  articulated  with  a  remarkable  tone  of  author- 
ity : 

"Whoever  is  within,  open  this  door  :  you  are  wanted." 

The  expression  was  that  traditional  \vith  the  police,  but 
the  feminine  voice  had  encouraged  Walton,  who  smilingly 
said  : 

"This  is  one  of  your  customers  to  have  the  future  told. 
She  falls  in  timely,  by  all  that  is  good  in  wine,  for  I  am  kiln- 
dry  again  and  my  red  rag  (the  tongue)  feels  like  an  old  kernel 
in  a  last  year's  nut." 

The  woman  ran  to  open  the  door,  and  let  in  the  marked 
lady. 

Her  eyes,  glittering  in  the  holes  of  her  vizard,  rapidly  made 
the  circuit  of  the  room,  which  sue  failed  to  recognize  from 
its  having  being  stripped  of  its  adornments  and  furniture. 
She  scanned  the  countenances  of  the  pair,  as  they  bowed  obse- 
quiously. 

"Are  we  three  without  hearers  here  ?"  she  demanded. 

"Yes,  noble  lady,"  said  the  man,  respectfully. 

"On,  is  this  you,  Walton  ?"  she  said  as  she  approached  the 
table.  "Hand  me  a  chair." 

"Do  you  know  me  ?"  said  the  man  starting. 

"Since  some  time  back,  gossip.  I  need  not  know  you  by 
name  to  guess  what  sort  of  a  finished  villain  you  are,  to 
inhabit  the  old  haunt  of  the  daughter  of  La  Voisin." 

She  sat  on  tne  stool  which  was  presented  to  her.  Her 
nonchalant  attitude  contrasted  with  the  rogues'  trepidation 
as  much  as  her  satin  with  the  sordid  aspect  of  the  room, 


112  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

44  You  are  the  sham  Englishman  whom  the  great  lady 
saved  from  the  gallows.  You  are  called  'the  Author'  by 
the  gang  because  you  can  write  a  good  hand  in  various 
styles,  and  have  pretended  to  publish  philosophical  works. 
You  were  latterly  the  factotum  of  La  Voisin  and  Pierre 
Lesage,  whose  daughter  you  have  inveigled.  It  will  not 
conduce  to  the  warmer  intimacy  between  you  if  she  should 
be  informed  of  the  part  you  played  in  his  sham  escape, 
which  has  resulted  in  his  decease." 

Both  her  hearers  started  at  this  accusation. 

"  As  for  you,  Bosse,  you  were  in  the  service  of  Lesage 
before  the  band  was  dispersed.  Am  I  sufficiently  well  in- 
formed ? 

"  You  know  more  than  I  know  myself,"  returned  Walton 
brazingly,  though  there  was  as  much  dread  as  curiosity  in 
his  tone. 

"  After  the  scandal  died  away,  you  thought  to  resume  the 
old  craft,  but  anew  the  police  became  vigilant  and  the  Le- 
sage girl  has  thought  fit  to  flee,  it  seems,  for  the  parapherna- 
lia of  the  so-called  La  Manicarde  has  disappeared.  You 
are  under  the  ban:  you  are  closely  watched  and  you  fear  that 
you  may  not  even  attempt  to  go  lest  you  be  arrested.  In 
short,  you  run  the  risk  of  dying  of  starvation  in  this  house 
where  your  confederates  and  masters  made  a  fortune." 

"  Alack  !  moaned  the  woman,  "  this  is  true.  Our  pow- 
ders and  salves  no  longer  sell,  and  our  pills  and  drafts  go 
begging.  If  our  medicines  were  only  harmless  we  would 
be  forced  to  live  upon  them." 

"  Bah  !"  growled  her  companion  ;  "  one  can  get  used  to 
doing  without  meat,  but  not  without  drink.  It  is  the  days 
without  a  draft  that  are  so  hatefully  hard  and  long."  Walton 
uttered  the  phrase  with  solemnity  and  his  face  was  convulsed 
with  genuine  horror. 

"The  great  ladies  are  jMt  -  frightened  as  the  common 
folk,"  went  on  the  hag  :  '*  tiie  fl  tuies  that  consumed  La  Vois- 
in have  daunted  them,  and  the  lesser  dames  act  like  them 
in  the  spirit  of  imitation." 

"  I  do  not  share  this  terror  or  those  scruples,  "  coldly  ob« 
•erved  the  visitress  ;  *'  and  if  you  consent  to  serve  me,  I 
shall  pay  your  help — never  mind  your  conscience — what  is 
it  worth?? 

"  Speak,  lady,"  said  the  man,  more  accustomed  to  such 
negotiations  than  the  woman.  .."we  arc  ready  to  obey  you." 


THE  DEA  TH  0*  ARAM  IS.  Mf 

*On  more  than  one  occasion,"  began  the  visitress,  lower- 
Ing  her  voice,  "I  had  recourse  to  the  talent  of  Lesage  and 
La  Voisin  ;  are  you  as  skillful  as  they  in  the  art  of  fabricat- 
ing that  elixir  which  given  in  a  carefully  calculated  dose,  in- 
vigorates ;  in  a  larger  one,  plunges  into  sleep  ;  and  in  a 
itiil  larger  one,  or  in  a  prolonged  series  of  small  portions, 
causes  the  sleep  without  awaking  ?" 

"  Madame,  I  was  initiated  into  all  these  secrets  and  have 
itudied  with  all  the  masters  of  my  time  :  from  them,  and 
perfected  by  myself,  I  hold  the  incomparable  receipt,  by 
which  I  make  the  elixir  to  wihch  you  allude  :  it  leaves  in  the 
subject  experimented  upon  all  the  semblance  of  life  ;  while  it 
is  carrying  into  every  article  a  stream  of  inevitable  death." 

"  Enough  ?"  exclaimed  the  dame,  "  I  see  that  you  are  the 
man  I  want." 

She  dropped  a  heavy  purse  upon  the  table.  "  Bring  out  to 
a  follower  of  mine  what  you  speak  of,  and  if  I  be  content  with 
you,  you  will  be  fully  recompensed.  You  are  watched,  so  do 
not  attract  the  attention  of  the  Police." 

"So  I  said,"  remarked  Walton,  turning  to  his  confederate : 
"that  was  one  of  Lareynie's  spies." 

"That  officer  that  I  met  at  the  door  ?" 

"Oh,  he  was  an  officer,  then  ?  At  all  events  he  did  not 
glean  much  here." 

"What  did  he  do  ?"  demanded  the  masked  lady  impera- 
tively. "I  want  to  know.  Speak  !" 

Walton  did  not  hesitate,  but  related  briefly  the  inter  view 
with  the  Knight  of  Locmaria.  From  the  commencement 
the  hearer  violently  trembled.  Her  brow  frowned  behind 
ihe  black  velvet ;  her  eyes  were  surrounded  by  a  brown  ring, 
and  her  feline  glances  explored  vacancy. 

"A  locket  ?  what  is  a  locket  ?  a  token  of  affection  to  his 
daughter  on  the  eve  of  the  death  which  he  divined.  There 
is  more  in  this  wizard's  craft  than  all  acknowledge.  Yet, 
nothing  was  found  upon  him  that  incriminated  me.  He 
would  have  never  destroyed  that  letter  of  mine — oh,  that 
letter,"  she  muttered,  pressing  her  head  between  her  hands, 
"what  can  have  become  of  it  ?" 

Walton  had  heen  straining  his  ear.  On  catching  thest 
last  words,  he  made  bold  to  speak. 

"My  ladv.  the  old  fox  passed  the  paper  into  the  medal- 
lion, and  that  over  to  ?««>«  hand  which  he  believed  he  could 
trust*  But  oermit  me  to  finisn  my 


si*  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OX, 

He  did  so  swiftly  with  the  masked  lady  sileiu  on  her  sea*. 
Her  features  had  become  as  still  as  though  they  were  sculp- 
tured in  marble  ;  but  her  eyes  blazed  and  her  brain  was  work- 
ing furiously. 

So,  so,"  she  mused,  "it  is  this  intruder  from  Brittany  who 
stands  in  the  way  ;  he  repulsed  my  advances  ;  he  is  the  as- 
sociate, unconscious  or  otherwise,  of  this  woman  who  is  try- 
ing to  displace  me  beside  the  King ;  he  is  now  the  master 
of  my  secret  and  of  my  fate  !  By  my  faith,  he  has  gone  too 
far  in  braving  me  and  being  a  fetter  upon  me.  You  arc 
a  spoil  sport,  Cnevalier  Joel,  and  I  begin  to  believe  that  you 
will  not  arrive  at  Freiburg  witnout  some  tnorn  catching  you 
in  the  hedges.  Friend,"  said  she  to  Walton,  "can  you  pro- 
cure for  me  two  stout  swordsmen  who  will  do  any  work  set 
to  them,  if  they  are  roundly  paid." 

"When  do  you  want  them?" 

'Immediately." 

The  sham  Englishman  reflected  a  moment,  then  slap* 
ping  the  hag  on  the  shoulder,  as  she  was  dozing  or  pretending 
so  to  do,  he  said: 

"Get  you  to  the  tavern  of  the  Dry  Well  at  the  Croix  Rouge, 
Your  brother,  the  Lock-breaker,  should  be  carousing  there; 
bring  him  with  another  of  his  scamp,  for  there  is  gold  to  win 
with  their  steel." 

The  tfoman  shuffled  out  with  a  more  nimble  stem  than 
might  have  been  expected  of  her,  but  there  was  the  prospect 
of  many  a  revel 

The  acquaintance  of  Lock-breaker,  the  treacherous 
lieutenant  of  Colonel  Cordbuff,  we  have  had  the  sad  nec- 
essity of  making  ;  the  comrade  cut-throat  whom  he  brought 
was  an  ex-soldier  of  the  royal  guards,  with  a  bully's  face,  bony 
brazen  and  hardened,  with  his  moustaches  waxed  and  hooked 
upwards  on  strong  jaws.  The  pair  saluted  the  masked  lady, 
with  one  hand  on  the  sword  hilt,  the  other  to  their  moustache 
curls. 

'  You  understand  me  clearly  then,"  said  she;  "at  present 
this  man  is  on  the  road  to  Lorraine.  You  should  recognize 
him  from  the  description  which  I  gave.  YOU  are  to  get 
liorses  and  run  him  down.  He  carries  a  locket  of  which  I 
have  need.  Rid  me  of  that  gallant  and  bring  me  the  token, 
and  I  will  give  you  a  fortune.'' 

"Fortune  is   a    relative  term."    observed 
**Ho\v  much  do  we  get  lu 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  215 

"Fifty  pistoles,  and  you  shall  have  three  times  as  much  af- 
ter." 
"Lady,  it  is  a  bargain." 

CHAPTER  XXIIL 

EVIL  10  THEM  WHO  EVIL  PLAN* 

AFTER  receiving  from  Minister  Louvois's  own  bands  the 
despatches  for  Marshal  Cre*quy,  the  Knight  of  Locmaria  left 
Paris  by  the  St.  Martin's  suburb.  He  was  in  warlike  ar- 
ray ;  spurred  with  pistols  in  the  holsters,  and  sharpened 
sword  by  his  side,  and  the  horseman's  cloak  on  his  shoul- 
ders. Esteban  rode  by  him  as  his  lackey. 

The  journey  opened  sadly,  as,  under  his  apparent  resig- 
nation, the  newly  married  man  quitted  with  regret  the  part 
of  earth  where  he  had  been  about  to  be  so  happy.  In  the 
ride  from  St.  Germain  to  Paris,  the  beat  of  his  horse's  hoofs 
carrying  him  away  from  that  lot  in  paradise,  had  sounded 
like  a  funeral  knell.  As  the  horizon  enlarged,  and  the  fu- 
ture, full  of  mysteries,  unfolded  itself  before  him,  he  felt 
the  need  to  reason  with  himself,  and  be  completely  his  mas- 
ter to  parry  the  eventualities  and  dangers  of  such  a  journey. 

He  rode  now  with  a  free  spirit  if  not  in  gaiety,  for  the  un- 
confined  breeze  had  refreshed  his  forehead.  His  broad  chest 
drank  it  to  the  fill  of  his  lungs.  The  world  seemed  vast,  and 
he  knew  he  lived  and  might  hope. 

In  his  recollection,  Aurore  was  smiling,  and  all  the  more 
charming  a  memory  for  that  phase. 

Two  things  annoyed  him.  First,  the  companionship  of 
Esteban,  whose  swarthy  complexion,  piercing  eyes  and  hon- 
eyed voice  inspired  in  him  scanty  confidence.  Again,  he  had 
not  had  time  to  continue  his  leavetaking  at  the  Blackamoor. 
What  had  become  of  Host  Bonlarron,  with  his  sword  as  long 
as  Friquet  was  tall,  and  that  brave  lad  himself,  the  jolly  com- 
panion so  tender  about  his  statue  ?  Never  mind  J  he  would 
hunt  them  up  on  his  return. 

For  he  had  but  one  thought  :  to  distinguish  himself  before 
Freiburg,  and  return  as  quickly  as  possible.  Hence  he  had 
decided  to  go  twice  the  usual  distance  in  one  dav.  He 
planned  to  pass  Chelles  and  sleep  at  Lagny.  Unfortun ately, 


2i6  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OJf, 

a.  little  before  reaching  the  skirt  of  Bondy  Forest,  an  they 
were  passing  a  little  wayside  blacksmith's,  the  man,  who  wa« 
hammering  on  his  anvil,  shouted  : 

"Cry  you  pardon,  my  gentleman,  but  your  man's  mare  will 
cast  a  shoe  before  she  goes  twenty  lengths,  for  the  off-hind 
shoe  hangs  by  only  a  couple  of  nails." 

The  remark  was  true,  and  they  were  obliged  to  stop.  While 
confounding  the  delay,  Joel  addressed  the  farrier  who  had 
warned  him  ;  "Friend,  it  is  not  enough  to  point  out  this 
unlucky  mishap  ;  but  you  must  help  us  remedy  it" 

"Right  willingly,  master ;  only  I  am  run  out  of  nails,  and 
must  send  to  my  brother-smith  at  Noisy  for  a  supply ;  but 
it  is  only  a  skip,  and  I  will  fasten  the  shoe  on  in  four  blows 
of  the  hammer." 

"At  Noisy  ?"  and  the  young  traveler's  brow  became  more 
dark.  "It  is  a  good  distance  and  the  job  will  take  a  lot  of 
time." 

"Why,  no,  for  I  have  my  bellows-boy  here  who  has  legs 
tike  a  deer,  and  will  get  there  in  a  short  half-an-hour  and 
another  to  return,  while  it  will  only  take  me  ten  minutes  to 
do  the  job.  In  better  than  an  hour  you  will  be  off  and  away 
again." 

"Yes,  but  this  prevents  my  supping  at  Lagny." 

"But  you  can  have  the  supper  at  Chelles,  at  the  Shield  of 
France  inn,  where  they  do  not  flay  alive  honest  folk,  and  it 
has  not  its  like  in  all  the  county  for  roast  duck  in  a  paste." 

"Send  your  prentice  off  at  once,"  said  the  gentleman,  dis- 
mounting and  walking  into  the  smithy.  "But  how  am  I  to  kill 
the  time  of  wafting  ?"  he  muttered,  while  Esteban  led  the 
horses  into  a  yard  behind  the  forge.  "Stay,  1  know.  I  will 
send  news  to  Aurore — the  darling  will  be  uneasy,  no  doubt. 
Let  us  prove  that  we  do  not  let  a  moment  pass  without  think- 
ing of  the  adored  wife.  Master  Vulcan,"  he  called  out,  "can 
you  furnish  me  with  writing  materials  ?  and  find  me  some 
corner  in  your  house  where  I  can  sit  at  a  table,  and  not  be 
disturbed?  I  pay  for  any  inconvenience  1  cause." 

The  peasant  pointed  to  a  ladder-like  flight  of  steps  leading 
up  from  the  smoked  corner. 

"  Go  up  into  my  room,  there.  The  paper,  ink  and  quill 
are  there  with  which  I  make  out  my  bills.  And  do  not 
Hurry  yourself,  for  we  will  let  you  know  when  the  job  is 
done." 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  817 

When  the  Breton  had  disappeared  in  the  loft,  Esteban 
went  up  to  the  smith  and  made  a  sign  to  him. 

"  Your  man  is  there  ?"  replied  the  blacksmith,  pointing 
iO  the  partitioned-off  place  where  he  stored  his  small  coal. 

A  door  creaked  slightly  on  its  hinges,  and  they  saw  the 
hangdog  visage,  long  body  and  hooked  moustache  of  Col- 
onel Condor  de  Cordbuff  ;  on  coming  forth  from  the  hole, 
he  stretched  his  limbs  like  a  wild  cat  leaving  its  lair. 

"  In  good  faith,"  grumbled  he,  "  I  was  afraid  that  the 
fresh  orders  would  not  arrive  in  time  to  you." 

"  It  is  plain,"  observed  the  lacky,  "that  if  we  had  not 
been  made  to  dance  attendance  on  the  War  Minister,  up  Jo 
noon,  his  excellency's  emissary  would  nol  have  met  me  in 
Paris."  In  a  confidential  tone  he  resumed  :  "  So  my  lord  the 
duke  is  bent  upon  finishing  the  affair  straightway,  eh  ?  Are  we 
not  to  go  on  to  Freiburg  ?  is  it  here  the  journey  comes  to 
an  end  ?" 

The  ex-colonel  of  the  Royal  Marauders  pointed  towards 
the  sombre  forest  line  as  he  replied:  "Twenty  muskets  lie  be- 
hind the  outmost  bushes  ?  ten  a  side.  From  each  hand  of  the 
road  the  lightning  will  flash." 

A  ferocious  smile  lit  up  the  Spaniard's  face,  as  he  ap- 
proved. 

''Caramba!  I  like  to  hear  the  guns  speak,  provided  it  is 
not  to  me  they  have  sharp  things  to  say." 

"But  we  must  await  nightfall,"  went  on  Cordbuff,  "other- 
wise this  confounded  Breton  may  perceive  the  glint  of  the 
barrels  under  the  leaves." 

The  Spaniard  took  a  look  at  the  sky. 

"Waiting  for  nightfall  when  there  is  a  gale  in  the  air.  I 
have  a  seaman's  eye  for  storms.  Before  an  hour  it  will  be  as 
black  out  there  as  in  this  forge  chimney." 

Condor  rubbed  his  hands. 

"That  is  wonderfully  good!  Though  our  lads  blaze  away 
at  random,  thev  will  not  do  the  worse  work.  After  we  do  it, 
each  must  shift  for  himself,  leaving  the  bodies  in  the.  mid- 
dle of  the  road,  so  that  whoever  finds  them  will  lay  the  blame 
on  the  robber  Vide-gousset,  who  infests  this  part  round 
Paris." 

"Pardon  me,"  interrupted  the  lackey,  pricking  up  his  ears: 
"'You  spoke  of  'bodies'  in  the  plural — from  some  slip 
tongue,  I  suppose.  You  meant  the  body." 


218  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

"That's  it,"  Cordbuff  rectified  the  error,  but  biting  hii 
lip.  "The  body  of  the  master  and  the  carcase  of  his  horse- 
that  is  what  I  meant,  for  the  beast  will  hardly  go  scot-free 
from  such  a  volley?  But  I  must  hurry  to  join  the  ambuscade. 
This  cursed  fellow  knows  me  from  a  brush  I  had  with  him 
on  tiie  Saumur  highway  and  the  attack  in  Paris,  and  it  would 
never  do  for  him  to  come  down,  for  he  would  recognize 
me." 

"Stay,  for  one  word.  Take  care  that  no  bullet  goes  akew 
in  my  direction,  please,  as  I  am  quick  to  reply  in  kind.  Re- 
member that  I  shall  be  close  behind  him,  and  I  do  not  want 
any  fatal  blunder  in  a  jest  or  by  premeditated  forgetfulness." 

"How  can  you  think  of  such  a  thing,  my  dear  comrade  ?" 

Indeed  the  sky  was  clouding  over.  At  the  gallop  sped 
masses  of  storm-lined  vapor,  producng  a  changeable  chaos 
of  liglit  and  shade.  One  of  these  eclipses  of  light  prevented 
Esteban  remarking  the  perfidious  intention  wiiicn  glistened 
like  the  serpent's  scales  on  the  adventure's  lips  and  in  his 
eyes  while  he  said: 

"It  was  the  duke  who  gave  the  orders  to  my  men.  So  no 
mistake  can  be  possible,  and  we  shall  carry  them  out." 

In  the  meantime,  Joel  continued  to  write,  on  the  upper 
floor.  His  pen  ran  rapidly  and  he  was  hardly  conscious  how 
time  was  coursing,  too.  He  was  speaking  to  his  dear  Aurore 
whom  he  saw  before  him  and  expected  to  hear  her  speak. 
On  the  sheets  of  blackened  paper,  the  phrase  "I  love  you,** 
was  often  repeated.  But  it  was  time  to  come  to  an  end  ; 
he  folded  up  the  epistle,  and  wrote  the  superscription. 

"What  a  slowness  they  show  in  notifying  me  of  the  time  to 
start  again,"  he  muttered.  "  How  dark  it  has  become,"  he 
added,  with  some  astonishment.  "Can  it  be  dusk  already, 
or  is  it  the  weather  turning  bad  ?" 

He  rose  and  went  to  the  little  window  to  verify  his  prognos- 
tic, but  he  had  barely  cast  a  glance  without  before  he  re- 
coiled like  a  man  who  does  not  want  to  be  seen. 

"  Halloa  !"  he  exclaimed  to  himself,   "this  is  singular  !" 

The  road  took  a  curve  before  passing  the  smithy.  One  of 
the  branches,  that  travelled  by  our  pair,  led  from  the  city  ; 
the  other  went  into  the  Bondy  Woods,  at  a  few  hundred- 
pa'ces,  yet  to  be  threaded  by  them.  The  room  window  com- 
manded the  forest  skirts,  and  the  squire  mechanically  ex- 
amined the  brush.  A  sunbeam  slanted  through  the  slaty 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAMIS.  219 

gray  clouds,  and  left  the  house  in  the  shadow ;  but,  on  the 
other  hand,  it  lighted  up  the  thickets  and  penetrated  the 
foliage  to  some  depth.  Thus  it  came  that  the  looker-out 
thought  he  saw  men  in  the  coverts,  and  luminous  points  like 
the  glint  of  light  upon  polished  metal.  Keeping  'up  his 
scrutiny,  but  remaining  hidden,  Joel  could  count  a  score,  ten 
on  each  side  of  the  road. 

"  The  deuce,  this  looks  like  an  ambush,"  he  thought. 

At  this  juncture,  one  man  appeared  among  the  glittering 
dots  and  waved  his  hand,  so  that  they  faded  out  of  sight  : 
evidently  he  had  perceived  the  oversight  and  wanted  to  pre- 
pare it,  before  he,  too,  vanished  in  the  copse. 

"  Zounds  1"  muttered  the  Breton,  "  if  I  had  not  smashed 
that  scoundrel  Cordbuff  on  the  Celestins  wharf,  I  should 
swear  that  he  is  yonder,  organizing  this  little  waylaying 
enterprise. 

But  who  would  this  party  be  arrayed  against  ?  As  the  young 
knight  was  putting  this  question  to  himself,  he  heard  the 
clatter  of  horses'  hoofs  on  the  road  from  Paris.  On  account 
of  the  bend,  the  new-corners  could  not  perceive  the  thicket 
until  they  passed  the  forge.  Besides,  the  sun  did  not  shine 
at  this  period,  and  tue  whole  sky  was  a  mass  of  sable  clouds. 
The  wind  raised  whirls  of  dust,  and  heavy  raindrops  began 
to  sprinkle  the  ground. 

Tne  sound  rapidly  drew  near,  and  presently  two  men  on 
horseback  rushed  by  the  smithy  at  full  gallop ;  their  steeds 
were  fleckered  with  foam,  as  if  from  a  precipitous  race.  One 
of  them  was  no  doubt  better  mounted  than  the  other,  for  he 
preceded  him  by  three  or  four  lengths.  Both  were  press- 
ing on  without  heeding  the  rain,  or  the  dust  which  strove 
to  blind  them  between  them. 

Scarcely  had  they  turned  the  elbow  before  the  men  in  hid- 
ing moved  in  the  foliage  and  Joel  saw  them  coming  forward 
to  bring  their  guns  to  bear. 

"How  now?"  muttered  he;  "can  it  be  for  me,  or  those  fel- 
lows that  these  warlike  preparations  are  made  ?  In  either 
case,  I  cannot  let  the  unsuspecting  fall  into  the  deadly  trap." 
He  lifted  his  voice  to  call  out  to  them,  but  it  was  lost  in  the 
uproar,  and  in  a  trice,  the  cavalier-  were  out  of  earshot. 

The  brave  knight  rushed  down  the  stairs,  shouting? 

"Our  horses — let  us  have  our  hordes — quick!" 

Thev  stood  ready  befQCC. the  forge.     Near  them  was  Este* 


330  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR. 

ban,  his  saturnine  countenance  contracted  by  anger  whicW 
in  the  haste  his  master  did  not  notice. 

"Plague  take  those  outsiders  !"  muttered  the  Spaniard, 
"whom  our  bullies  will  mistake  for  us,  and  shoot  them  in- 
stead of  this  new-fledged  knight." 

Joel  had  bounded  into  the  saddle,  crying:  "At  full  speed 
and  have  your  sword  drawn — we  must  save  those  travelers 
or  at  least  lend  them  aid  '" 

But,  us  he  dug  his  spurs  into  his  steed's  flanks,  several 
gunshots  resounded.  In  spite  of  this,  the  chevalier  dashed 
off  with  the  bridle  between  his  teeth,  and  in  his  hands  the 
rapier  and  a  pistol.  The  lackey  followed  at  the  same 
pace. 

"It  looks  as  though  I  shall  be  obliged  to  put  a  bullet  into  the 
back  of  his  head,"  though  he,  streching  out  his  hand  to  his 
holsters. 

But  a  few  scattering  shots  whizzed  about  them  like  angry 
hornets,  and  the  servant  of  Aramis  uttered  a  scream  of  pain: 
a  slug  had  broken  his  pistol-arm  near  the  wrist  and  a  bullet 
had  entered  his  throat.  Uncontrolled,  his  frightened  horse 
carried  him  in  the  wake  of  his  master's,  which  burst  into  the 
wood  like  a  hurricane. 

Twenty  paces  within  the  skirt  of  the  wood,  between  natural 
hedges  of  undergrowth,  two  bleeding  corpses  were  stretched, 
at  the  side  of  which  Joel  with  difficulty  reined  in.  Into  the 
pool  of  blood  wiiicn  they  had  lost, — Esteban  was  pitched,  by 
the  sudden  stoppage  of  his  steed — horrified  by  the  blood  and 
the  smell  of  powder. 

The  two  dead  men  were  those  who  had  caught  the  volley 
intended  for  the  Son  of  Porthos.  One  of  them  was  held 
down  under  his  horse,  which  had  a  broken  thigh.  The  other's 
horse  was  racing  through  the  forest,  which  was  becoming 
hushed  as  though  its  glades  were  unpeopled  once  more. 
But  at  a  distance  was  audible  the  tramp  of  a  troop  of  ir- 
regular cavalry,  fading  away.  It  was  the  company  of  Cord- 
buff,  obeying  the  order  to  make  off  at  will. 

Joel  hitched  his  charger  to  a  tree,  and  examined  the  dead 
before  he  attended  to  the  dying,  less  interested  in  his  own 
man  than  he  could  account  for.  The  strangers  were  beyond 
hope  :  the  first  was  slain  outright  as  though  struck  bv  light- 
ning, and  the  other  was  riddled  like  a  sieve.  When  the  young 
knight  terminated  this  task,  he  saw  that  Esteban  had 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  tti 

to  hfe  senses,  and,  propped  on  the  elbow  of  his  uninjured 
Arm,  was  curiously  contemplating  the  two  corpses. 

"I  see.1'  mattered  he,  careless  whether  he  were  overheard 
or  not:  if  I  nad  been  riding  behind  the  master,  as  I  should 
have  been,  I  would  have  received  all  that  shower  of  lead  in 
my  body,  instead  of  two  pellets — which,  by  all  that  is  unlucky, 
will  do  the  trick,  I  fear  me.  Orders  were  out  to  slay  the 
valet  along  with  the  master  :  or  Cordbuff  sought  to  get  rid 
of  a  rival  who  hampered  him  in  trying  to  enjoy  my  lord's 
good  graces.  Be  it  as  it  may,  the  lesson  comes  too  late  for 
me  to  profit  by  it.  But  I  can  be  revenged,"  he  continued, 
with  a  scowl  of  evil  augury. 

Joel  lifted  him  up  into  a  sitting  position,  and  propped  him 
against  a  tree.  His  wound  had  ceased  to  bleed  outwardly, 
but  he  held  his  unhurt  hand  to  it  as  if  choking.  A  deathly 
perspiration  bathed  his  livid  brow  ;  his  eyelids  closed  de- 
spite his  will,  and  a  red  froth  bubbled  about  his  mouth. 

"Drink,"  moaned  he. 

Joel  took  a  flask  of  wine  from  his  saddlebow  and  held  it 
to  the  swaying  head,  of  which  the  teeth  chattered  against 
the  cap,  used  as  a  cup;  but  he  managed  to  gulp  a  mouth- 
ful. 

"The  saints  reward  you,"  he  gasped. 

"Take  courage,"  said  his  master.  "I  will  ride  to  the  smith's 
or  carry  you  thither." 

An  ironical  smile  flitted  over  the  lackey's  lips. 

"Do  nothing — it   is  over — I    have   my   account  settled." 

His  eyelids  slowly  opened,  disclosing  the  vitreous  orbs, 
and  his  unsteady  gaze  wandered  over  the  scene  of  slaughter; 
suddenly,  kindled  by  tne  forerunning  of  his  doom,  it  shone 
with  a  fugitive  lustre.  "I  trust  you  will  revenge  me.  Oh, 
that  I  had  a  priest  ere  I  die — but  it  is  impossible  here.  Since 
there  is  nothing  else,  you  shall  receive  my  confession,  by 
which  you  can  profit  to  save  yourself  perhaps———" 

"You  are  wandering  !  how  save  myself  ?" 

"  This  ambuscade  was  directed  against  you  and  me — that 
wretch  of  a  Cordbuff  would  not  have  spared  his  accom- 
plice. 

"Cordbuff,  do  you  say?  then,  it  was  he  whom  I  spied.  Has 
that  cut-nurse  turned  cut-throat  ?" 

"  He  is  your  mortal  enemy — and  not  the  only  one — an$ 
the  others  are  more  powerful  and  skillful  They  send 


?22  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OX, 

to  Freiburg  to  be  rid  of  you — they  wanted  to  kill  you,  lest 
you  might  return." 

"  But  why  ?  who  are  these  enemies  ?  who  longs  for  my 
death  ?" 

"  All  is  spinning  round  me,"  muttered  the  weakening  suf- 
ferer. "  My  very  heart  is  melting  within  me.  For  pity's 
sake,  give  me  something  to  clear  my  swollen  throat." 

Joel  offered  him  the  wine  again,  and  on  ins  swallowing 
a  few  drops,  a  slight  flame  mounted  to  his  ciieeks. 

"Yes,"  said  he,  hastening  as  if  he  feared  a  crisis  wouli 
stop  his  revelation,  "  listen  now,  and  grave  these  words  on 
your  mind  with  the  indications  I  give  you.  Those  men  fell 
instead  of  us,  but,  you  see,  I  was  marked  down.  My  mas- 
ter, the  Duke  of  Almada,  has  bought,  on  the  margin  ot  Mar- 
ly Woods,  a  summerhouse  not  far  from  the  royal  residence. 
In  the  principle  room  of  the  house,  on  the  left  of  the  fire 
place,  is  a  secret  panel,  moving,  if  you  press  the  spring,  in 
a  brass  knob  concealea  in  the  dado.  This  opens  a  way  to 
a  subterranean  gallery  communicating  with  the  palace,  end- 
ing in  one  of  the  rooms  of  the  king's  apartments." 

'  But  what  is  the  good  of  these  particulars  ?"  quered 
Joel.  "  In  what  way  do  they  concern  me  ?  what  use  are 
they  ?" 

"  I  see  that  you  do  not  understand  me,"  breathed  the 
wounded  man  with  difficulty.  "  You  think  I  am  in  delirium, 
raving  and  out  of  my  senses — but  you  are  wrong — I  see 
clearly,  and  you  will  understand  me  later.  That  secret  way 
is  to  be  used  to  arrive  in  time  to  outstrip  the  King  and 
prevent  •" 

"  Go  on,  go  on  !  prevent  ?" 

"  Prevent  the  plot  which  I  overheard  arranged,  being 
brought  to  pass." 

His  breathing  had  grown  hard,  his  vision  dim,  and  he  held 
out  his  hand  as  his  head  fell  backward. 

"  More  drink  !"  he  panted,  "  I  am  dying." 

The  knight  held  out  the  flask  this  time,  but  he  had  hardly 
more  than  carried  it  to  his  lips  than  he  repulsed  it  so  roughly 
that  it  fell  on  the  mossy  ground,  and  he  hoarsely  uttered  : 

"  No,  would  you  send  me  drunk  into  the  presence  of  my 
Judge  ?" 

His  features  became  broken  up  with  frightful  rapidity ; 
his  upturned  eyeballs  half  disappeared  under  the  distended 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  223 

lids  :  the  flaps  of  his  nose  sank,  and  the  scum  on  his  lips 
changed  to  a  yellow  hue. 

"What  does  all  this  signify?"  demanded  the  Breton,  lean- 
ing over  him  ;  "answer  me  !  what  did  you  hear  plotted  ?" 

"I  know  not — I  remember  no  more.  The  mist  clouds  my 
eyes,  and  a  bell  seems  booming  in  my  brain.  But  that  pas- 
sage will  be  guarded.  Cordbuff  and  his  murderers  will  be 
posted  to  dispute  the  entrance.  Caramba  !  crush  them  as 
they  did  that  pair  there  :  and  the  old  chief,  too.  Ah,"  he 
shrank  back  as  if  to  enter  into  the  substance  of  the  tree 
against  which  he  rested,  "it  is  he  who  is  coming,  the  sinister 
white-beard  !  he  comes  to  strangle  me  lest  I  make  the  con- 
fession !"  he  rose  along  the  trunk  as  if  to  resist  or  flee  from 
a  spectre  ;  his  eyes  widened  with  intense  terror,  and  his  un- 
hurt hand  again  clawed  at  his  throat. 

"He  has  seized — he  is  strangling  me  !"  His  skin  turned 
an  ashen  color ;  from  his  swollen  throat  a  hoarse  gurgle  is- 
sued, and  the  froth  on  his  mouth  was  a  blackish  red. 

Joel  grasped  him,  for  he  would  have  fallen  full-length. 

"Once  more,  Speak,  I  urge  you  !  I  beg  you — I  want  to 
know " 

No  reply  came  from  the  lackey,  whose  head  dropped  for- 
ward on  his  chest,  for  he  was  dead  :  the  wound  had  flowed 
inward  and  his  last  words  were  stifled. 

Meanwhile  the  storm  had  suddenly  been  appeased;  a  last 
gust  had  cleared  the  sky  and  the  sunset  was  clear  and  serene. 
Joel  gave  a  last  look  to  the  ghastly  battlefield  ;  on  the  two 
bravifto.  saw  the  vile  expression  which  death  had  not  lessened, 
but  he  could  not  guess  that  they  were  the  hirelings  of  the 
Marchionesss  de  Montespan,  engaged  to  pursue  him  and 
bring  to  her  the  locket  in  which  Pierre  Lesage  had  secreted 
the  incriminatory  paper  in  her  hand  which  he  hoped  to  be 
the  weapon  for  his  daughter's  protection.  To  earn  their  pay, 
the  ancient  lieutenant  of  Cordbuff  and  his  partner  had 
started  forthwith  on  the  man-hunt.  Tiiey  had  not  spared  the 
spur  to  overtake  the  young  knight,  and  had  so  strained  them- 
selves that  they  had  shot  in  advance  of  him  and  received  the 
n.usketry  discharge  intended  for  their  betters. 

"Errare  humanennest — "  which  may  be  translated  as  "Evil 
befals  those  who  meditate  evil." 

Joel  went  to  the  blacksmith's  for  aid,  but  that  worthy, 
fearing  that  his  complicity  in  the  outrage  might  be  suspected, 


234  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

had  abandoned  his  house.  The  young  man  was  therefore  com- 
pelled to  leave  the  corpse,  and  take  the  two  spare  horses  in 
leash,  to  the  bailiwick  of  Vitry,  where  he  related  the  matter 
to  the  lieutcnant-criminel.  After  signing  his  statement,  the 
King's  messenger  resumed  the  journey,  less  troubled  by  the 
sanguinary  scene  than  by  Esteban's  strange  and  incomplete 
revelations. 

Ought  he  take  them  seriously?  or  consider  them  the  fancies 
et  cerebral  derangement  inherent  to  the  passage  from  life  to 
death — the  ramblings  of  a  mind  filled  with  incoherences  and 
chimeras  by  the  death  throes?  was  there  anything  behind 
the  last  words,  with  an  enigmatic  sense  which  the  dying  one 
had  no  time  to  make  clear? 

What  could  signify  this  mysterious  stuff  about  sliding 
panels,  assassins  lying  in  wait,  a  summerhouse,  the  royal  res- 
idence? who  were  the  powerful  and  skillful  enemies  who 
threatened  the  days  of  the  young  knight  and  had  already  de- 
livered one  bow  at  those  who  had  by  chance  been  substituted 
for  their  victims.  What  was  the  aim,  and  what  the  reasons? 

The  Duke  of  Almada  could  not  be  the  "old  man''  of  whom 
the  Spaniard  had  passed  away  in  such  terror.  He  might 
have  let  him  moulder  in  the  Bastille  :  but  he  had  made  him 
the  happiest  of  lovers,  by  uniting  him  to  Mdlle.  du  Tremblay. 

The  King  could  not  be  an  enemy.  He  had  but  to  frown 
to  be  disembarrassed  of  a  dangerous  subject  or  of  one  simply 
importunate.  In  the  case  of  the  knight  of  Locmaria,  he  need 
not  have  interfered  with  the  march  of  justice  :  but  he  had 
been  great  and  good,  and  granted  mercy.  Besides,  in  what 
way  could  a  humble  country  squire  have  offended  the  most 
Christian  King  or  annoyed  the  ambassador  of  the  Catholic 
Majesty  of  Spain  ?  It  is  needless  to  say  that  no  idea  struck  the 
honest  youth  that  Aurore  had  any  part  in  the  schemes  woven 
against  him.  The  dying  lackey  and  not  spoken  of  the  young 
lady.  So  the  newly  married  man  was  very  deeply  perplexed. 
It  was  in  bewilderment  that  he  reached  Nancy,  where  two 
letters  overtook  him  in  kindness  to  his  poor  head  :  he 
was  obliged  to  stop  a  couple  of  days  to  rest  his  charger. , 
One  missive  was  from  her. 

Aurore  was  already  beginning  to  feel  impatience  over  the 
return  of  the  husband  of  her  heart.  She  was  in  attendance  on 
the  Queen  at  St.  Germain's,  her  royal  mistress  manifesting 
more  and  more  affectionate  kindness  every  day  Her  com* 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  335, 

panions  seemed  to  like  her.  Those  called  "the  wise  owes,"  in 
that  frivolous  court,  surrounded  her  with  attentions  and  de- 
ference. The  King  was  absorbed  in  the  important  ne» 
gociations  at  Nimwegen.  He  came  seldom  into  his  consort's 
apartments.  The  writer  added  that  she  had  seen  nothing  of 
the  Marchioness  de  Montespan,  while  she  often  met  the  Wid% 
now  Scarron,  who  was  located  at  Pecq  with  her  royal  nursery. 

"  She  is  a  friend  whose  great  mind  and  heart  I  value  mort 
and  more.  Need  I  tell  you  that  you  are  the  topic  of  all  our  con- 
versations ?and  iiow  she  endeavors  to  comfort  me,  strengthen 
me,  and  restore  my  faith  in  t'ne  goodness  of  heaven  and 
hope  in  the  future,  when  my  thoughts,  running  before  you  on 
the  remote  highways,  look  for  you  amid  the  horrors  of  a 
siege,  the  fury  of  storming  parties,  and  among  the  dead  and 
the  wounded  !  Oh,  my  dear  and  valiant  Joel,  take  care  of 
yourself  for  the  sake  of  her  who  lets  no  moment  go  by  with- 
out thinking  that  she  is  your  wife.  Be  prudent  as  you  are 
brave.  •  Preserve  your  life  as  I  should  your  honor." 

"  How  she  loves  me  !"  muttered  the  knight,  "  and  how 
deserving  she  is  of  love  !" 

He  kissed  the  paper  in  a  transport  of  delight. 

The  second  message  was  from  Widow  Scarron.  She  stat- 
ed to  her  correspondent  that  Aurore  won  admiration  by  her 
candor,  loftiness  of  character,  and  frank  revulsion  against 
vice  and  wickedness. 

"  The  King,  whose  confidence  I  sometimes  have  the  hon- 
or to  enjoy,  since  I  am  nearer  St.  Germain,  has  declared  to 
me  on  several  occasions,  that  none  among  the  ladies  of  the 
royal  household  better  merits  the  tokens  of  esteem  and  sym- 
pathy with  which  the  Queen  kindly  favors  her.  Aurore  is 
yours,  my  friend,  as  the  priest  is  wedded  to  heaven.  You 
must  be  the  same  towards  her.  Besides  I  keep  my  promise, 
and  I  watch  over  this  angel  of  perfection  with  the  solicitude 
which  I  have  for  the  royal  offspring  confided  to  my  care." 

The  words  in  both  letters  were  a  cordial  to  him.  In  neith- 
er was  there  mention  of  the  Duke  of  Almada.  It  was 
clear  that  the  agony  and  the  fever  of  death  had  embroiled 
the  wits  of  Esteban  when  his  heavy  conscience  was  in  tur 
moil. 

Hence  our  traveler  resumed  the  journey  with  both  head 
and  heart  relieved  of  depression  which  had  almost  stifled 
him. 


326  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

The  roads  were  cut  up  by  the  wheels  of  the  artillery,  among 
which  he  was  glad  to  hear  was  the  battery  of  the  new  engines  of 
war,  the  bombards,  of  which  Friquet  held  himself  the  in- 
ventor, and  which  it  was  understood  would  give  the  signal  for 
the  grand  attack  on  Freiburg.  Besides,  the  roads  were  also 
dangerous  from  the  numbers  of  banditti,  disbanded  soldiers 
and  deserters  from  both  sides  who  foraged  for  their  own  gain, 
and  put  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  Vosges  to  ransom.  For 
that  matter,  the  chevalier  would  have  preferred  to  face  a 
company  of  these  highwaymen  than  ride  with  the  black 
thoughts  which  had  harassed  him  before  he  received  the  let- 
ters. 

The  night  was  clear  when  he  reached  the  Black  Forest^ 
which  had  not  stolen  its  name,  for  it  was  black  as  an  oven  in 
the  glades.  Before  him,  after  passing  through  a  vale,  dark 
masses  of  pines  covered  the  gloomy  ridge  of  a  hill.  A  light 
sparkled  there,  of  so  much  greater  volume  than  a  cottage 
candle,  that  Joel  believed  it  would  be  a  rendezvous  of  soldiers 
or  an  inn. 

He  was  right  in  the  latter  conjecture,  for  he  recognized  by 
the  sign  of  a  Cooked  Crayfish  and  the  general  aspect  that  he 
was  before  one  of  those  humble  houses  of  entertainment 
which  have  earned  this  quarter  in  more  recent  ages  the  tik 
tie  of  a  land  of  hotels. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE  MAID  OF  THE  INN. 

ALTHOUGH  there  was  no  welcome  when  Jflel  rode  up,  he 

dismounted  on  being  assured  by  hearing  voices  within  that  it 
was  not  deserted,  and  tying  his  horse  to  a  ring  in  the  wall, 
strode  boldly  into  the  place. 

It  was  composed  of  a  common  room,  with  a  staircase  at 
the  back,  a  table  in  the  midst,  and  a  fireplace  where  several 
pieces  of  meat  and  some  split  crayfish  were  broiling  and 
baking. 

A  tall,  brawny  man  sat  by  the  window,  cleaning  one  of 
those  long-barrelled  fowling-pieces  which  are  ao°d  for  any 
kind  of  game.  Before  being  an  innkeeper,  Kaspar  Braun 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  MJ 

j.  soldier  in  the  Thirty  Years'  War,  devoted  as  now  to 
his  Emperor  and  his  country.  When  the  French  invaded 
the  country,  his  loyalty  set  him  against  him,  but  on  the  oth- 
erhand  his  good  fare  and  the  sacred  laws  of  hospitality 
through  which  he  had  often  saved  a  guest,  earned  him  a 
kind  of  truce.  The  excuse  of  his  age  sufficed,  but  his  sun- 
burned visage,  breathing  indomitable  energy,  and  the  mel- 
ancholic gravity  special  to  men  living  in  the  solitudes  of  nat- 
ure, did  not  express  the  weakness  of  many  years.  Over  his 
green  cloth  vest  and  breeches,  the  uniform  of  a  forester,  he 
wore  a  goatskin  jacket  with  the  hairy  side  inward  ;  his  high 
leggings  of  buckskin  were  tightly  laced  over  iron  spiked 
shoes;  and  his  hunting-knife  hung  at  his  belt.  When  he 
rose  to  receive  the  guest,  he  showed  the  subdued  ferocity  of 
a  bulldog  under  restriction  not  to  bite  till  further  orders. 

"  What  can  one  do  for  your  service,  my  gentleman  ?"  he 
challenged,  with  a  slight  bow,  and  using  the  French  mixed 
with  German  common  on  the  border  where  the  armies  of  both 
powers  so  often  warred. 

"  In  faith,  many  things,  my  good  man  of  the  woods," 
gaily  rejoined  the  cavalier:  "accommodation  and  food  for 
myself,  and  shelter  and  provender  for  my  steed  at  the  door. 
I  suppose  a  supper  is  possible  ?" 

The  old  forester  smiled  grimly. 

"Everything  is  possible  even  now  on  the  frontier,  if  the 
money  is  forthcoming,  and  you  give  enough  time." 

"You  shall  take  your  own  time,  and  as  I  have  escaped 
the  knights  of  the  road,  I  need  not  look  to  the  expense." 

"Arouse  you,  you  sluggard  wench  from  Paris,"  shouted 
Braun.  "Go  and  put  the  gentleman's  horse  in  the  stable  antf 
hurry  back  to  do  the  cooking." 

This  was  spoken  in  German,  but  the  guest  had  already 
acquired  a  smattering  of  the  dialect  and  the  result  of  the 
•peech  enlightened  him  as  to  the  meaning.  To  his  surprise, 
a  recumbent  figure  which  he  had  not  suspected,  rose  in  the 
fireplace  :  but  he  did  not  utter  the  exclamation  risen  to  his 
lips  as,  while  the  German  put  his  gun  in  a  rack  on  the  wall, 
this  woman  laid  her  finger  signifying  caution  on  her  mouth. 
The  word  Pairs  had  been  cue  enough,  for  her  person,  small 
and  brisk,  her  manner,  petulant,  quick  and  restless,  and 
her  saucy  and  brightly  vulgar  features  spoke  of  the  daughter 
of  Lutetia.  In  her  peasant's  dress  she  no  more  resembled 


THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OX, 

the  buxom  girls  of  the  Rhenish  inns  that  an  actress  the 
countrywoman  whom  she  personates  in  silks  and  costly 
jewelry.  Bui  she  nimbly  crossed  the  room  and  disappeared 
without. 

"There  is  a  basin  of  fresh  water  yonder,"  said  the  inn- 
keeper, sullenly  pointing  to  the  farther  end  :  "you  may  want 
to  get  the  dust  of  the  road  off  you.  And  if  your  trappings 
are  in  your  way,  I  will  hang  them  up. 

Braun  alluded  to  the  guest's  rapier  and  horse-pistols  which 
he  had  brought  in  with  him,  stuck  in  his  belt. 

"  Thank  you,  my  good  friend,"  said  Joel,  without  losing 
his  smile:  "I  amused  to  the  articles  and  they  do  not  incon- 
venience me." 

The  other  seemed  vexed  in  a  sulky  way,  but  he  spoke 
calmly  enough:  "Just  as  you  like,  my  master.  Then,  since 
I  can  do  nothing  for  you,  let  me  go  draw  some  wine," 

He  stole  to  the  rear  of  the  room  and  lifting  a  trapdoor, 

descended  by  a  short  ladder  into  a  place  hallowed  out  in  the 

ock  among  the  roots  of  the  pinetrees  which  had  contributed 

heir  substance  to  make  this  house.     Hardly  had  he  gone 

han  the  young  woman  returned  ;  but  she  seemed  afraid  to 

venture  many  words  to  the  new-comer,  to  whom,  as  she 

passed  to  blow  up  the  fire,  she  gave  a  look  meaning  :     "Be 

careful.     We  are  listened  to." 

To  kill  the  time  and  give  himself  a  countenance,  the  French- 
man pretended  to  study  the  coarse  prints  stuck  against  the 
wall  to  relieve  the  monotony  of  the  plastering.  They  were 
mostly  pictures  of  saints,  or  battles. 

"What  can  all  this  strange  reception  mean?"  he  wondered. 
"A  German  host  and  a  French  servant,  who  is  certainly  not 
his  wife  or  his  daughter,  but  in  as  much  awe  of  him  as  though 
she  were  either." 

In  the  meantime,  the  man  had  returned  and  placed  two 
bottles  of  Rhine  wine  on  the  table,  where  the  woman  ar- 
ranged a  cloth,  two  china  vases  with  woodland  flowers,  a 
slice  of  cold  roebuck  with  berry  sauce,  a  hare  pie,  some 
sliced  smoked  sausage,  and  a  polished  pewter  goblet.  While 
busying  herself  at  the  board,  she  made  the  Son  of  Porthosa 
sign  which  meant  that  he  might  drink  without  apprehension. 
Then  she  returned  to  the  revived  fire,  where  she  deftly  and 
rapidly  cooked  an  omelet,  and  dished  *  rabbit  stewing  sine* 
some  hours. 


On  sniffing  the  aroma  of  these  warm  edibles  and  icasting 
his  sight  on  the  cold  side-pieces  already  ranged  on  the  board, 
our  hero  flung  his  hat  on  a  chair,  and  cried  !  "To  table  !" 

Braun  darted  an  angry  look  upon  the  woman  and  said  ; 
"Well,  do  you  not  see  that  the  gentleman's  weapons  are  in 
his  way  ?" 

This  return  to  the  previous  charge  irritated  the  guest,  who 
vetorted  testily  :  "Never  mind  !  I  am  learning  to  be  a  sol- 
dier, and  I  am  trying  to  get  used  to  eating  and  drinking  in> 
my  equipment." 

"On,  the  gentleman  is  a  soldier?"  broke  forth  the  inn- 
keeper, in  a  voice  which  he  tried  to  make  more  innocent 
than  it  would  have  appeared  to  more  experienced  ears. 

"  Yes :  though  I  am  more  of  a  despatch-bearer  than, 
unything  at  present  time,  being  on  my  way  from  Paris  t<f 
Marshal  Crequy." 

The  fact  was,  the  good  dinner  was  doing  its  softening 
work  and,  besides,  Joel  was  on  the  very  verge  of  accomplish- 
ing his  mission,  and  he  did  not  even  feel  a  twinge  at  this  too 
frank  admission  of  his  errand  in  a  debatable  land  where  both 
parties  roved. 

The  innkeeper's  face  darkened  as  much  as  the  strange 
waitress's  brightened  at  his  refusal  to  lay  aside  his  weapons. 
Braun  had  reckoned  on  the  influence  of  the  meal  and  the 
sex  without  success.  The  Breton  showed  the  thickness  of 
his  skull  by  drinking  a  bottle  to  the  omelet,  a  second  to  the 
vension  and  he  called  for  a  third  to  wash  down  the  preserves, 
the  cheese  and  the  fruit. 

Night  had  fallen  and  lights  were  lit. 

"  How  do  you  like  the  wine  ?  it  is  a  little  vintage  of  nay 
own,"  said  Braun,  rather  more  amiably. 

"  It  is  exquisite.    I  shall  like  this  country  !" 

The  host  proposed  fetching  some  more,  but  at  this  time, 
as  the  young  soldier  caught  the  eye  of  the  servant,  he  saw 
her  simulate  nodding  off  to  sleep.  That  he  had  in  this  fel- 
low-countrywomen a  friend  in  the  possibly  hostile  camp,  he 
did  not  doubt,  and  he  took  the  hint. 

"  But  it  flies  to  the  head,"  went  on  he,  gaping  frightfully; 
11  either  that  or  my  long  ride  has  made  me  desire  rest.  The 
Sandman  has  got  into  my  eves." 

The  landlord  rose  from  his  bench  at  a  respectful  distance 
tnd  took  up  a  candle  to  light  it  with  splinter  at  the  fire* 


830  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

4.1  this  *hance  of  gesticulating  behind  his  back,  the  waitress 
took  a  step  or  two,  reeling  as  if  it  were  she  who  had  imbibed 
too  much  wine. 

"Right,"  thought  the  knight.  "I  shall  conform  to  these 
suggestions,  which  have  a  purpose." 

And  rising  to  take  the  candle,  he  tottered  as  if  the  floor 
Were  oscillating. 

"Dash  it  all,"  he  said,  clutching  at  the  table,  "one  would 
tay  that  the  wind  is  high  in  the  hills  and  rocks  your  old 
chalet  like  a  ship  at  sea.  Oh,  it  must  be  the  little  vintage 
of  which  you  brag.  Satanic  beverage — I  shall  have  a  head- 
ache for  this  if  I  do  not  sleep  it  off." 

Braun  laughed  heartily. 

"It  is  mild  as  milk,"  sneered  he,  putting  the  candlestick 
in  his  hand,  as  if  to  prevent  the  servant  seeing  the  guest  to 
his  room.  "Dr.  Slumber  will  cure  you.  After  a  good  night 
you  will  not  feel  a  bit  of  it.  You  will  wake  up  to-morrovr 
morning  as  gay  as  a  woodpecker  in  a  hollow  tree.  But  let  the 
maid  hang  up  your  iron  appendages.  You  see  that  even  I 
hang  my  gun  up;  we  live  in  the  peace  of  heaven,  since  the 
French  drove  away  the  duke  of  Lorraine;  and  they  shall  be 
cleaned  like  my  old  ducking-gun,  when  you  don  them  in 
the  day." 

The  woman  surreptitously  shook  her  head,  and  as,  with  a 
calmed  face  she  extended  her  hand,  Joel  gallantly  chucked 
her  under  the  chin  and  said:  "Hold  there  !  the  old  priest 
who  taught  me  latin,  told  me  a  pretty  tale  of  Venus  in  the  ar- 
mor of  Mars — but  pooh!  all  has  become  mixed  in  my  head — 
to  bed,  to  bed!" 

He  had  the  heavy  gesture,  thick  tongue  and  falsely  spark- 
ling eye  of  the  cavalrist  who  has  drunk  too  deeply. 

"As  you  please,  my  honorable  guest.  It  is  only  to  oblige 
you.  Go  right  up — there  is  but  one  room  at  the  head  of  the 
stairs.  The  bed  is  under  the  window.  Do  you  want  any- 
thing more  ?" 

"No,  I  have  lost  my  man  along  the  road,  and  must  get  used 
40  tucking  myself  in.  Good-night,  master,  and  my  pretty 
maid!  Peace  on  all  under  your  rooftree!" 

Braun  echoed  the  wish  but  in  the  tone  of  a  funeral  oration. 
He  fastened  his  eyes  on  the  woman,  who  looked  demure  and 
guileless,  as  both  listened  to  the  irregular  tread  of  the  stum- 
bling youth,  who  reached  the  door  in  front  of  him  on  the- 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS  231 

landing,  kicked  the  door  open  and  staggered  to  the  bed,  on 
which  he  seemed  to  fall.  The  couch  was  heard  to  groan  and 
creak  under  the  unusual  weight,  and  soon  a  loud  snore  tlium- 
dered  in  the  loft.  A  sinister  delight  showed  on  the  forester's 
browned  face  and  he  muttered: 

".Drunk,  tired  and  asleep.  The  cat  is  in  the  bag.  A  bear-* 
er  of  despatches,  eh?  I  must  have  a  word  with  Walton  o» 
that  point  before  we  settle  him." 

He  took  his  gun  down  and  put  on  his  tall  felt  hat,  adorned 
with  an  eagle's  wing.  , 

"Madame  Therese,"  he  went  on  in  a  low  stern  voice,  "I 
am  going  to  meet  Walton.  If  the  man  upstairs  moves,  blow 
the  cow's  horn,  and  we  will  hasten  to  your  aid." 

Joel  was  listening  overhead  and  as  soon  as  he  heard 
the  innkeeper  depart,  he  quickly  rose  ;  there  was  nothing 
painful  or  uncertain  in  his  steps  and  no  vestige  of  the  drunk- 
enness or  fatigue  existed  in  his  whole  frame.  He  had  no  need 
to  be  a  soothsayer  to  divine  that  his  money,  his  despatches 
or  his  life  were  at  stake.  So  he  freshened  his  pistol  prim- 
ing and  loosened  his  sword  in  its  sheath. 

At  the  end  of  a  time  that  seemed  long,  he  heard  a  light 
but  incautious  step  on  the  stair,  and  he  opened  the  door  sc1 
that  he  might  have  free  swing  to  his  sword  and  a  broad- 
opening  for  his  shot.  It  was  the  petite  figure  of  the  woman 
which  appeared,  and  he  lowered  the  weapons'  point  and 
muzzle. 

All  was  in  darkness  as  he  had  prudently  extinguished  his 
candle  but  his  sight  was  accustomed  to  the  gloom,  and  hef 
eyes  sparkled  like  gems. 

"  I  hope  you  have  come  to  explain  ?"  he  began. 

"  To  explain  enough  to  satisfy  you.  We  have  an  hour 
before  us  as  the  man  has  gone  to  keep  an  appointment  and 
gather  help,  perchance.  This  estimable  forester  makes  it 
a  practice  to  get  soldiers  and  travelers  drunk  and  do  then* 
to  death  in  their  sleep.  Thus  he  serves  his  cause  and  gleans 
secrets  of  military  movements  by  which  his  employers  profit.' 

"  Why  did  you  not  tell  me  at  once,  when  I  should  have 
cut  him  down  on  the  eve  of  his  abominable  project  ?" 

The  two  were  out  on  the  landing  now. 

"  Because  I  had  my  doubts  of  the  outcome  of  the  fright—0 
Braun  is  a  hardy  old  soldier.  When  he  heard  that  you  car- 
ried despatches,  he  knew  that  you  had  a  greater  value  than 


352  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS.  OR, 

a  chance  passer-by,  and  he  goes  to  consult  with  one  who  it 

A  past  master  in  rich  secrets.        Tiiey  have  suggested  to  mt 
before,  as  I  am  French,  that  I  should  decoy  young  officers 
and  tnus  deliver  the  generals'  plans  to  our  enemy." 
"  Well  ?" 

"The  opportunity  has  not  happened  before  this,  and  I 
>» 

"  Patriotism  would  make  you  repulse  the  suggestion?" 

"  I  do  not  know — this  man  whom  Kaspar  Braun  has  gone 
to  meet  is  my  tyrant — a  demon.  Have  you  never  heard  in 
Paris  of  the  criminal  associate  of  La  Voisin  and  Lesage,  the 
chief  who  contrived  to  escape  after  a  temporary  arrest — the 
'Englishman,'  the  'Author  ?' — and  author  he  is  of  many  an 
atrocity." 

"  I  know  little  of  Paris,  but  I  learnt  something  of  the  af- 
fair of  the  Poisoners." 

"  Hereafter,  I  will  acquaint  you  with  what  he  is:  enough 
that  he  is  a  thorough  villain  who  will  not  need  the  whet  of 
your  carrying  despatches  to  ally  himself  with  Kasper  to  kill 
you  in  your  bed.  He  had  told  me,  on  rejoining  me  from  Paris, 
whence  I  was  a  fugitive,  that  he  must  obtain  information  of 
importance  in  order  to  sell  it  to  Prince  Charles  for  his  pro* 
tection,  a  shelter  and  money,  so  that  he  may  gratify  his  hot- 
rid  ambition." 

"This  wretch  is  your  gallant,  then  ?" 

"My  torturer — the  living  reminder  of  a  past  of  which  tha 
recollection  sears  me  like  a  burning  iron.  Fate  has  chained 
us  together  like  two  convicts  in  the  galleys.  Perhaps  I  adored 
him  once.  To-day,  I  submit  to  him — I  am  forced  to  serve 
bim,  but  I  hate  him.  Never  mind  me,  though,"  she  went 
on,  drawing  nearer  Joel,  who  towered  above  her  on  the  stairs: 
I  repeat  that  the  innkeeper  will  soon  return  with  Walton  or 
another.  In  these  frontier  villages  are  plenty  of  deserters 
whom  a  piece  of  gold  converts  into  murderers.  At  need, 
Walton  would  persuade  Braun,  who  has  some  human  weak- 
ness in  him,  to  join  hands  with  the  camp-followers  and  villag- 
ers who  throng  the  woods. " 

"Let  them  come,"  muttered  the  youth,  clapping  his  hand 
on  his  swordhandle  with  a  joyous,  fearless  gesture. 

"Yes,  I  understand  that  you  will  defend  yourself  against 
a  score  or  more,  but  at  the  sound  of  the  affray  a  scouting 
patty  of  the  Germans  may  run  up  and  then  you  would  be 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  933 

overpowered.  Besides,  though  Braun  would  attack  fairly 
enough,  it  is  not  the  same  with  Walton  who  employs  the 
devil's  weapon,  fire,  with  all  the  devil's  cunning.  He  is  capa- 
ble of  setting  fire  to  the  house." 

"Who  cares " 

The  young  woman  -grasped  his  sword-arm,  saying  in  a 
sweet  voice:  "  But  how  about  her  ?" 

"What  'her  !'  " 

"  The  woman  whom  you  love  and  who  loves  you — whom 
you  left  behind  ?" 

"Aurore  !" 

"Ah,  her  name  is  Aurore,  is  it .'  I  do  not  know  anything 
about  her,  but  this  is  true — a  man  who  loves  and  is  beloved 
has  no  right  to  rush  rashly  into  death." 

"Aurore  !"  repeated  the  chevalier,  with  pendant  head. 

"If  you  were  to  get  slain,  what  would  become  of  her  ?  who 
can  tell  but  she  may  need  your  sword  and  arm  one  of  these 
days  !  Again  and  yet  again,  think,  oh,  think  of  her  !  Think 
of  me,  too,  for  heaven's  sake  !  when  that  scoundrel  learns  that 
I  betrayed  him  and  his  accomplice  to  save  you,  my  life  will 
no  longer  be  my  own.  I  do  not  want  to  be  murdered  be- 
fore I  have  time  to  plead  to  the  Judge  on  high  by  my  repent- 
ance— " 

The  Breton  felt  overcome. 

"In  short,  what  do  you  ask  ?"  said  he. 

"I  have  not  only  kept  the  harness  on  your  horse,  which 
will  be  rested,  but  I  have  equipped  Walton's,  on  which  pair 
we  may  flee.  All  I  beseech  you  is  to  place  me  in  some  asy- 
lum where  he  may  not  penetrate — a  convent  or  the  like — 
But  follow  me  without  sound " 

"Run  away  before  such  scum  ?"  said  Joel,  with  a  rebellious 
movement. 

"I  will  show  you  how  to  meet  him  another  time,"  said  the 
woman  savagely. 

He  followed  her  down  the  stairs  with  as  light  a  step  as  pos- 
sible. They  reached  the  inn  door  but  Therese  only  stopped 
there  to  listen  to  the  sounds  without. 

"The  better  way  is  to  leave  by  the  rear  door,"  murmured 
she.  "It  seems  to  me  that  the  rodd  is  not  lonley.  Come 
on." 

But  on  passing  through  a  low,  narrow  door  which  gave  the 
Frenchman's  robust  body  a  squeeze,  and  finding  themselves 


134  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR. 

in  a  kitchen  garden,  where  the  vine  flourished  on  trellises, 
the  guide  suddenly  seized  her  companion  by  the  arm  and 
dragged  him  under  a  kind  of  bower  :  here,  in  the  hot  weather 
boon-companions  discussed  the  vintages  of  which  Braun 
boasted  beneath  the  leaves  of  the  vine  which  bore  them. 

Three  dark  figures  entered  the  stableyard  by  the  simple 
process  of  striding  the  hedge  at  a  gap.  Joel  recognized  the 
tallest  as  the  innkeeper's  ;  he  was  accompanied  by  wearers 
of  cloaks  and  swords,  but  only  one  of  them  had  a  soldierly 
bearing  in  keeping  with  the  weapon.  This  one  seemed  treated 
with  respect  by  both  the  others. 

"What  meant  that  light  going  out  as  we  came  up  ?"  ques- 
tioned this  man  in  a  voice  trained  to  give  orders. 

"My  lord, "  answered  Kaspar,  "I  should  say  that  it  was  the 
wife  of  this  gentleman,  who  thought  all  was  ended  for  the 
night  and  she  has  gone  to  bed.  But  I  can  make  sure " 

Then,  leaning  towards  the  mute  and  cloaked  third  party, 
he  whispered  :  "Get  through  with  your  business  with  the 
prince,  that  we  may  attend  to  this  French  officer.  Con- 
found it  all,  I  fear  that  your  wife  may  give  an  alarm." 

"Fear  nothing,'  replied  Walton  in  the  same  undertone ; 
"she  is  as  suppliant  to  my  will  as  the  cane  which  I  wield." 

He  carried  a  cane  with  a  horn  head,  like  the  gentleman  of 
fashion  in  town  who  wish  always  to  be  accustomed  to  hold- 
ing a  weapon. 

The  person  addressed  as  a  lord  had  impatiently  waited  for 
this  brief  colloquy  to  come  to  a  close.  Thereupon  he  said  : 
"  Disturb  nobody.  We  can  confer  just  as  well  in  one  of  these 
Arbors.  As  for  you,  Kaspar,  go  and  stand  guard  at  tne  gap 
on  the  road.  There  are  too  many  prowlers  about  after  dark 
for  precautions  to  be  neglected,  and  as  an  old  woodsman,  I 
know  your  eye  can  be  relied  upon." 

At  this,  Joel  shrank  farther  back  behind  the  leafy  screen. 

Whether  by  instinct  or  that  he  had  not  the  profound  faith 
in  Therese  which  Walton  manifested,  Braun  was  reluctant  to 
take  the  designated  post  and  he  muttered  : 

"Will  not  your  highness  do  his  faithful  servant  the  honor 
of  sitting  within  his  doors — after  a  few  minutes  to  rid  the 
house  of  vermin — and  accept  what  I  have  in  the  cupboard 
and  the  cellar?" 

"Be  easy,  my  dear  Kaspar,"  said  the  prince  affectionately 
•lapping  him  on  the  sturdy  shoulder,  "I  will  go  into  you* 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  235. 

home  and  sit  at  your  board,  but  not  until  we  shall  have 
cleared  the  land  of  these  accursed  foreigners,  who  have  inn- 
pudently  come  upon  the  imperial  soil.  Then ,  I  promise  you, 
we  will  drink  the  best  vintages  of  your  Rhenish  wine  to  the  dis- 
grace of  the  vanquished  foe  and  the  joy  of  Freiburg  with  the 
raised." 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE   INVOLUNTARY  SPY. 

"CAN  this  be  the  Duke  Charles  ?"  said  Joel  In  a  low  tone  : 

but  he  received  no  explanation  from  his  companion  :  fright* 
ened  into  stupor,  she  had  sunk  upon  a  seat  in  the  arbor  and 
wrung  her  hands  in  muteness. 

Braun,  with  a  glance  up  at  his  house,  quiet  as  if  only  the 
dead  were  inmates,  strode  to  his  post  to  act  the  sentinel :  the 
other  two,  occupying  the  bower  adjacent  to  that  which  con- 
cealed the  knight  and  his  guide,  began  their  dialogue.  The 
prince  sat  on  the  bench,  leaning  both  hands  on  his  knees, 
and  projecting  his  chest  so  as  to  study  the  face  of  his  in- 
terlocutor and  not  miss  any  words.  The  socalled  English- 
man remained  standing,  with  his  hat  off,  in  a  respectful  at- 
titude, and  as  the  starlight  out  lined  his  features,  the  watche 
was  amazed:  it  was  the  man  who  had  met  him  in  the  house 
of  the  Manicarde  in  Bouloi  Street  and  stopped  his  searches 
for  therese  Lesage.  The  coincidence  of  the  woman's  name, 
a  common  one,  furnished  no  clue,  but  he  could  not  help  think- 
ing that  this  meeting  was  strange  :  he  had  no  time  >to  indulge 
in  trying  to  solve  puzzles  for  the  interesting  dialogue  had 
commenced.  They  used  the  same  border  language  as  Braun 
to  the  Chevalier  de  Locmaria,  that  is  French  peasant  talk 
with  German  words,  but  Walton  spoke  with  choice  phrases 
here  and  there  like  one  who  had  communed  with  the  great. 

"  Yes,  my  lord,"  said  Walton,  "  I  have  ridden  all  the  way 
from  Paris  to  furnish  your  highness  with  news." 

"  Good  or  bad  ?" 

"  Both,  your  highness." 

*  Let  me  hear  the  bad  news  at  once,  sir!" 

"For  the  success  of  the  campaign,  no  further  reliance 


*3&  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

should  be  placed  upon  the  Duke  of  Saxe-eisenach,  who,  af- 
ter having  shamefully  retreated  before  Montclar',  French 
forces,  stupidly  let  himself  be  cornered  on  an  island  in  the 
Rhine,  by  Strasburg,  where  he  has  surrendered." 

"Yes,"  said  the  prince,  turning  pale,  "  you  are  right ;  this 
is  bad  news — worse — disartrous  1"  He  wiped  his  perspir- 
ing forehead  with  the  back  of  his  hand.  '  What  next,  sir  ? 
quick  !"  he  said  in  a  tone  becoming  steady  by  his  will. 

"Well,  my  lord,  you  must  not  count  on  the  sixty  thousand 
men  with  whom  you  promised  to  relieve  Freiburg  and  re-en- 
ter Lorraine " 

"How  is  this  ?" 

"His  Imperial  Majesty,  from  whom  you  expected  this 
succor,  requires  all  his  troops  to  put  down  the  insurrection 
in  Hungary." 

"Ah  !" 

"Besides,  his  ministers  judge  the  position  of  France  so 
strong  that  they  have  resolved  to  accept  without  discussion 
She  conditions,  which  that  power  imposes  at  the  treaty-con  • 
gress  held  at  Nimwegen." 

His  hearer  was  whiter  than  the  handkerchief  with  which 
he  wiped  his  face  as  the  cloaked  spy  continued  : 

"The  fact  is  that  the  army  which  collected  under  Basle, 
and  which  you  were  to  take  the  command  of  and  relievu 
Freiburg  before  a  forward  movement,  has  started  this  very 
morning  for  Vienna,  with  orders  to  march  quickly  so  as  to 
deal  with  the  rebels." 

"  Ugh  !"  growled  the  prince,  gnawing  his  fists,  "  so  fade 
my  hopes  and  expectations  !  Fie  on  this  Prince  of  Saxe-Eis- 
enach  and  this  Leopold,  suggested  to  be  my  brother-in-law  ! 
two  Varuses — one,  a  coward  and  the  other,  a  perjurier  ! 
who  will  restore  me  their  legions  ?"  he  rose  and  stood  in  a 
shaking  fit  of  rage.  He  breathed  hard,  and  opened  his  coat  as 
if  to  bare  his  breast  to  his  dagger.  Is  there  nothing  good 
left  on  the  earth  ?  nothing  that  men  hold  in  respect  ?  gone 
are  plighted  faith,  the  ties  of  family  and  the  soldier's  honor  !" 

He  seemed  choking  ;  but  mastering  his  emotion  after  fall- 
ing upon  the  seat,  he  said  with  a  wearied  gesture  : 

"  Have  you  some  more  gall  from  that  cask  to  pour  out  to 
me?'' 

"  My  lord,  I  have  finished  with  the  bad  news." 

44  It  is  true — you  said  some  was  good.     Well,  speak,  my 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAMIS.  aj? 

Man.  Please  heaven,  what  is  to  come  is  not  so  disagreeable  !" 

"  Your  highness  is  the  judge.  In  the  first  place,  Your 
highness  is  aware  that  the  French  are  short  of  artillery  before 
Freiburg." 

"  But  it  is  being  Mat  th«m  :  I  hear  of  a  bMtery  being1 
planted-" 

"  Of  guns  on  a  new  system  and  of  recent  iaveirtion?" 

"  Precisely  ;  of  terrible  execution." 

"  Possibly  ;  but  it  will  be  a  long  time  before  this  battery 
comes  into  play." 

"  Do  you  think  so .'" 

"I  know  so,  my  lord,  because  the  pieces  are  useless  with- 
out the  proper  powder  and  projectiles,  which  are  loaded  in 
wagons,  mired  down  on  this  side  of  the  Vosges  Mountains  ; 
it  will  have  taken  days  to  dig  and  haul  them  out ;  and 
though  they  are  due  to-morrow  night  they  will  not  arrive  if 
they  are  cut  off." 

"  Eh  ?" 

"  The  wagons  will  be  escorted  by  dragoons  ;  say,  some 
thirty  men  at  most — enough  in  a  safe  country,  and  your  reg- 
ular soldiers  are  withdrawn  ;  but  I  have  had  a  chat  with  an 
old  freelance  captain,  and  he  has  a  band  of  fifty  desperadoes 
waiting  at  Coimar  to  intercept  them." 

"  Did  you  order  this  ?" 

"  They  await  ray  word,  my  lord.  And  I  have  done  bet- 
ter than  that  as  I  came  along.  On  hearing  that  peace  will 
be  si^.ied  at  Niraewegen,  a  number  of  brave  lads  who  dote 
on  warfare,  for  what  profit  it  brings  them,  have  deserted  from 
all  armies  so  as  to  co-operate  with  fellows  of  the  same  stripe, 
and  there  they  are  at  Oppenau,  upwards  of  eight  thousand 
strong." 

"  Eight  thousand  rough  soldiers  at  Oppenau, — only  a  few 
leagues  away  ?" 

"  I,  who  knew  most  of  their  leaders  when  we  campaigned 
in  Flanders,  had  the  idea  of  enrolling;  them  under  your  high- 
ness's  colors.  Your  highness  has  this  extra  legion,  then,  to 
lead  to  victory  and  booty — or  death." 

The  prince  frowned. 

"  Is  it  partisan  war  that  you  propose  to  me,  sirrah  ?" 

"  All  kinds  of  war  are  feasible  when  it  serves  one'i 
gain" 

"  I  am  a  general  of  armies,  not  a  captain  of  plunderers." 


5J38  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

"  But  a  general  is  none,  when  he  has  no  army  !"  returned 
Walton  with  rare  boldness,  at  which  Joel  conceived  a  higher 
opinion  of  him. 

"  Fellow !" 

"Pshaw  !  I  imagine  your  highness  to  have  a  mind  too  su- 
perior to  cavil  at  mere  words.  Come  to  this  pass,  what  were 
the  companions  of  Romulus  ?  a  handful  of  blackguards 
scooped  up  along  the  highway  for  the  organised  robbery 
called  conquest  !  what  the  grand  companies  of  free- 
lances which  Duguesclin  gathered  to  fight  the  King  of  Nav- 
arre? what  the  knights  who  helped  William  the  Conqueror  to 
take  England?  Adverturers  all!  Allow  these  desperate  sold- 
iers to  place  you  once  more  in  possession  of  your  states. 
You  can  discipline  them  into  regiments  and  their  captains 
will  make  as  good  a  figure  in  history,  I  warrant  you,  as  those 
who  burnt  towns  under  Marshal  Turenne, pillaged  Lorraine 
under  Crequy,  ravaged  Germany  under  Gustavus  Adolphus, 
and  nearly  upset  your  Emperor  under  Wallenstein.  Besides, 
your  highness  has  no  time  to  be  dainty.  The  hour  is  decis- 
ive for  you.  The  capture  of  Freiburg  by  the  French  will  mean 
your  impotence  to  fly  to  the  help  of  those  whom  you  led  to 
ruin — all  Europe  will  see  this  clearly  and  pitying  you  to-day, 
it  will  scorn  you  to-morrow  and  repudiate  you  thereafter.  Do 
you  wish  to  act  over  again  the  part  your  uncle  Charles  IV. 
palyed  vagabond,  dispossessed,  and  starved — and  which  you 
have  had  some  experience  in?  do  you  want  Louis  XIV.  to  cast 
you  a  slice  of  teritory  as  a  crust  is  tossed  to  a  dog?  Would  you 
like 'to  rule  over  the  three  Bishoprics,  with  Toul  for  a  cap- 
ital— that  hencoop!  If  you  be  this  kind  of  sovereign  and 
commander,  I  am  your  servant  who  takes  his  leave.  Con- 
sider that  I  never  came  so  far  to  seek  you  out;  and  that  I 
sounded  the  secrets  of  the  intriguers  in  Paris  for  another  con- 
fidant than  you.  Think  you  that  I  have  pretended  to  sell  drugs 
with  the  risk  of  being  burnt  alive,  for  the  purse  of  gold  they 
earned,  now  and  then?  No?  I  will  go  straight  to  link  my 
fortune  to  some  one's  more  ambitious,  more  audacious  and 
more  enteprising  than  your  highness." 

"The  Author"  had  found  a  hearer  if  not  his  opportunity 
at  last:  be  sure  that  Joel  listened  to  the  whole  with  avidity. 
Therese  had  heard  some  such  sentences  before,  and  the  elo- 
quence was  wasted  on  her  :  sitting  on  the  bench,  she  hid 
her  eyes  in  her  hands  and  w*1^  .avlently. 


THE  DEATH  OF  ARAM  IS.  239 

The  Prince  of  Lorraine  meditated  :  he  vaa  a  well-read 
jnan,  and  he  muttered  : 

"Quijacet  in  terra  non  habet  unde  cadat" 

Whicti  meant  on  iiis  lips  that  he  was  on  the  ground  and 
had  no  farther  falls  to  dread.  If  he  moved,  he  might  risk 
all  to  win  all.  While  he  reflected,  the  tempter  regarded  him 
covertly,  dusting  his  fine  boots,  which  he  owed  to  the  bounty 
of  Mdme.  de  Montespan,  as  well  as  his  suit  of  riding  clothes.! 

"But,"  said  Duke  Charles,  finally  raising  his  head,  "Suppo* 
sing  that  I  consent  to  use  the  soldiers  whom  you  offer  me,  do 
you  fancy  that  they  will  have  any  chance  to  vanquish  an 
army  full  of  bravery,  discipline  and  cohesion  like  Cre"quy's  ?" 

"Yes,  if  the  Freiburg  garrison,  also  good  regular  troops, 
makes  a  general  sortie  at  the  same  time  as  these  irregulars, 
not  so  irregular  in  movements  as  in  morals,  attacks  them  in 
the  rear." 

"It  may  be." 

"That  is  not  all.  I  should  want  this  day  of  attack  to  be 
Jthat  when  the  French  made  an  assault  in  force  on  the  strong- 
hold. I  am  told  that  a  secret  mine  is  ready  loaded  for  such 
a  storming  party.  I  would  lure  the  enemy  upon  the  wall  so 
undermined  and  apply  the  torch  when  a  simulated  retreat 
brought  them  over  the  volcano.  Then,  when  the  most  daring 
spirits  of  the  foe  were  hurled  into  atoms,  I  would  have  the 
free  companies  charge  with  your  regulars  and  the  garrison 
issue  by  the  other  gates  to  rout  the  demoralized  foe." 

"This  implies  that  you  are  to  be  inside  the  fort?" 

"  I  must,  in  order  to  notify  your  lordship  when  to  make 
the  attack  with  the  combined  forces." 

"  You  would  enter  the  place  ?" 

"  I  shall  be  inside  in  a  day  or  two." 

"But  you  must  pass  through  the  French  camp  ?" 

"  I  am  French,  though  born  in  London:  I  see  no  difficulty 
in  this — it  is  my  business:  I  shall  find  some  pretext,  some* 
disguise,  some  means.  Trust  to  one  who  has  an  inventive, 
wit  when  I  decide  on  anything,  the  devil,  somewhat  related 
to  me,  I  believe,  never  fails  to  assist  me  to  carry  out  the 
scheme." 

"  If  success  crowns  your  efforts,  sir,  I  shall  lie  under  great 
obligations  to  you." 

"  In  working  for  your  highness,"  said  Walton,  "I  am  work- 
ing for  myself.  I  bulk  up  t  fortune  in  Paris,  but  as  I  was 


240  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OX. 

putting  on  the  roof,  a  gale  arose,  and  all  has  tumbled  in.  j 
have  fled  with  my  mistress,  my  lord,  and  I  come  to  your 
highness,  because  we  are  birds  of  a  feather — I  mean  in  the 
like  straits. 

Lorraine  frowned,  as  this  resemblance  did  not  more  than 
half  please  him. 

"But,"  went  on  the  other,  understanding  this  rep.ignance; 
'*  let  the  more  pressing  case  be  attended  to.  Is  your  high- 
ness willing  to  take  measures  in  connection  with  the  plan  1 
have  the  favor  to  propose  ?  May  I  know  on  what  day  he  would 
give  battle  to  the  French  marshal  ?  " 

The  duke  reflected,  before  replying  in  a  determined  tone : 

"  This  is  Monday.  To-  morrow  I  shall  go  over  to  Op- 
penau  to  put  myself  at  the  head  of  your  part  sans  ;  on  Friday 
night  we  will  rush  upon  the  besiegers.  May  this  day  repay 
us  for  that  at  Consarbruck  when  we  were  defeated  !  But,'* 
he  resumed,  turning  to  the  other,  "  I  repeat  to  you,  this  ul- 
timate effort  has  only  the  hops  of  success  in  the  concurrence 
of  the  garrison,  the  explosion  of  the  mine  beneath  the  storm- 
ing party,  and  of  the  population  of  the  town." 

"  I  say  again  ;  the  storming  party  shall  be  lured  to  the 
s;te  of  destruction,  for  1  shall  be  within  Freiburg  to-morrow. 
On  the  fixed  night,  signal  to  me  that  you  are  ready  to  fall 
on." 

"  A  rocket  from  this  house  should  forewarn  you  that  we  are 
about  to  attack," 

"  A  rocket :  that  will  do  ;  hold  it  as  certain  then,  that  all 
the  men  able  to  carry  arms  will  sally  out  to  crush  the  French 
between  them  and  your  army  like  two  branches  of  pincers. 
Rely  on  me,  my  lord,  for  our  aims  are  alike." 

The  duke  rose  to  the  relief  of  Joel,  to  point  out  that  the  in- 
ter view  was  over,  but  Walton  did  not  budge. 

"  Still  a  few  minutes,  my  lord  !  all  is  not  settled  between  us. 
Your  highness  has  apparently  omitted  one  essential  point.'* 

"  Hem  ! "  said  Lorraine,  •*  I  have  forgotten  that  all  services 
must  be  paid  for  and  that  we  have  not  yet  fixed  the  price 
which  you  have  the  right  to  claim  for  yours." 

"  Your  Mghness  is  wrong,"  returned  Walton,  shaking  his 
head.  When  success  has  come,  then  your  highness  may 
value  It  in  proportion  to  the  gains." 

"  Deuce  take  him !"  muttered  the  general.  "He  asks  for 
coining,  and  so  his  terms  will  be  terribly  dear." 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  141 

"A  last  point,  ray  lord  :  it  is  settled  that  I  am  to  enter 
the  town.  Ought  I  not  have  some  credentials  to  present  to. 
the  governor  on  which  he  will  obey  the  instructions  which 
I  carry  from  your  highness,  and  show  me  the  mine,  which  I 
want  to  fire  with  my  own  hand,"  said  he  with  a  fiendish  grin 
which  caused  the  warrior  to  shudder.  "Otherwise  the  wor- 
thy officer  will  see  in  me  only  a  spy,  a  secret  agent  of  ihe 
French  Marshal,  and  he  will  apply  to  me  the  expeditious 
methods  of  the  laws  of  war — which  will  not  sensibly  ad- 
vance your  highness's  affairs.0 

The  duke  pondered. 

"  You  are  right,"  he  said,  taking  out  a  note-book,  of  which 
every  page  was  stamped  with  his  cipher  so  as  to  be  recog- 
nized by  his  military  officers.  "  Braun  answers  for  you  to/ 
me,  and  I  can  answer  for  you  to  others — to  a  certain  degree. 
I  will  furnish  you  with  the  pass  you  desire."  He  wrote  or* 
the  page  with  pencil  and  read  these  lines  aloud. 

"  To  Colonel  Schutz,  our  Military  Governor  of  Freiburg 
Castle  and  town.  Colonel :  We  desire  you  to  receive  the 
bearer  of  the  present  note  with  the  attentions  due  an  envoy 
of  ours  and  to  favor  him  with  all  he  may  wish  for  the  good 
of  our  service  and  the  defence  of  the  place." 

44  Wonderfully  good  !'*  observed  Walton. 

**  Wait !"  said  the  Lorraine  prince,  who  resumed 

*If  however  this  said  envoy  proffers  the  advice  to  surren. 
der  the  8*id  place,  or  he  appears  to  commit  any  act  hurtful  to 
the  defence,  or  seems  to  be  in  collusion  with  the  enemy,  do 
not  hesitate  to  punish  him  straightway  ^  with  the  penalties 
prescribed  by  the  law  for  spies  and  traitors.  Watch  him 
carefully  and  at  the  first  suspicious  move,  hang  him  for  me 
or  wash  his  head  with  some  ounces  of  lead.  This  is  out 
express  wilL" 

He  looked  at  the  traitor  fixedly  and  asked  : 

"Have  you  understood  this  writing  ?" 

"Yes,  my  lord,"  rejoined  Walton,  who  indeed  followed  the 
text  with  a  clearer  head  than  Joel,  brought  to  the  task  of 
comprehending  German. 

The  duke  signed  and  detached  the  toftf. 


342  THE  SON  OP  PORTHOS;  OR. 

"'The  colonel  knows  ray  hand,"  said  he,  "and  consequently 
the  authenticity  will  not  be  disputed.  I  warn  you  that 
he  is  the  sort  of  man  to  execute  the  orders  though  he  had  to 
do  so  with  his  own  hand." 

Walton  snapped  his  fingers,  so  naturally  that  the  prince  was 
deceived.  He  held  out  the  paper,  saying  : 

"Take  it,  and  take  heed  that  it  is  not  found  upon  you,  if 
you  run  up  against  the  soldiers  of  Marshal  Cre*quy." 

"I  must  come  near  to  him,  my  lord,  since  I  reckon  on  him 
to  help  me  into  Freiburg." 

"Ah  ?" 

"I  shall  call  on  him,  as  the  bearer  of  despatches  from  the 
War  Minister  Louvois.  I  left  Paris  with  the  hope  of  securing 
them  ;  I  have  distanced  the  messenger  on  the  road,  and  I 
know  where  to  lay  my  hand  on  them." 

Joel  shuddered  in  the  ambush,  to  think  that  he  might  have 
been  sleeping  at  this  hour,  unconscious  of  his  impending 
doom. 

"I  shall  transmit  to  your  highness  a  copy  of  the  documents, 
and  as  for  this  pass,  I  have  a  secret  receptacle  here  in  which 
I  defy  the  cunning  ones  to  perceive  the  real  hollow." 

He  unscrewed  the  head  of  his  cane  and  showed  that  it 
was  innocent  enough  of  preparation  ;  he  detached  the  fer- 
ule, and  the  stick  sounded  solid  to  the  rap  of  the  nail  ;  but 
about  half  way  down,  one  of  the  ornamental  knots,  whence 
the  twigs  were  trimmed,  proved  to  be  fictitious  and  disclosed 
a  pocket.  He  rolled  up  the  paper  and  inserted  it  therein. 
Fastening  the  pieces  together,  he  cut  the  air  with  it  and 
said  jauntily  :  "It  is  done,  my  lord.  It  is  not  the  French 
who  will  ferret  out  the  tablet  of  your  highness." 

The  chevalier  had  missed  no  detail  of  the  manoeuvre. 
Duke  Charles  V.  and  his  ally  proceeded  towards  the  door 
of  the  stableyard  and  exchanged  some  words  with  Braun, 
who  had  stood  like  a  statue,  surveying  the  road. 

The  prince's  features  were  depressed  with  lassitude,  dis- 
gust and  repugnance  as  he  went  out  to  join  his  escort  in  a 
hollow. 

"What  a  great  shame  and  pity  that  a  prince  of  my  race, 
related  to  the  most  illustrious  houses  of  Europe,  should  be  re- 
duced, to  fight  destiny,  to  ally  himselt  with  the  accomplice 
of  the  Poisoners  of  Paris  !  " 

"What  a  pity  !  "  sighed  Joel  in  his  ambush,  "that  I  can* 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS^  245 

not  make  this  capture — the  Lorraine  prince,  the  <nvpiatcable 
adversary  of  Marshal  Crequy,  his  Majesty  and  France !  1 
must  let  him  fly  away  when  I  had  but  to  put  my  finger  oo 
him.  The  marshal  would  have  congratulated  me  before  the 
whole  army;  the  King  would  have  called  me  home  to  over- 
whelm me  with  honors,  riches,  and  decorations — but  all  is 
lost !  it  is  not  so  sure  that  I  shall  capture  this  renegade." 

Indeed,  the  sham  Englishman  and  Braun  were  speaking 
by  the  hole  in  the  hedge.  The  silence  in  the  house  gave 
them  a  twinge  of  suspicion. 

"Bah  ! "  said  Walton,  at  last,  as  he  preceded  the  German 
on  the  way  to  the  house,  "  I  am  sure  of  the  woman.  We 
will  send  her  up  to  see  if  the  man  is  asleep,  as  you  assert, 
and  as  he  answers  or  is  silent,  we  will  charge  to  make  an  end 
of  it.  Did  you  hear  ?  those  papers  he  carries  must  be  my 
passport  into  the  presence  of  Marshal  Crequy.  He  will  be 
(oo  glad  to  get  them  to  look  closely  at  my  story  of  how  I 
met  the  bearer,  wounded  to  the  death  by  bandits,  and  con- 
fiding them  to  mr ,  He  will  welcome  the  Frenchman  who 
did  his  duty  and  would  not  try  to  sell  them  to  the  Prince  of 
Lorraine.  " 

He  drew  his  sword,  and  with  the  innkeeper  armed  with 
his  knife,  he  entered  the  house. 

"Now  is  our  time, "  whispered  the  woman,  who  had  been 
electrified  by  the  nearness  of  her  persecutor. 

They  ran  to  the  stable  :  the  large  door  was  on  the  jar,  and: 
the  two  had  the  horses  out  in  a  twinkling.  Joel  swung  him- 
self into  the  saddle  and  helped  the  woman  into  hers  ;  the 
saddle  was  not  suited  to  the  feminine  mode,  but  there  was 
no  time  to  rectify  it,  and  she  mounted  as  best  she  might.  To 
add  spurs  to  their  flight,  they  heard  in  the  inn  angry  words, 
oaths,  and  shouts,  and  divined  that  their  absence  was  dis- 
covered. 

Side  by  side  the  two  horses  leaped  the  hedge  at  the  gap 
and  Joel,  half-turning,  asked: 

"What  direction  do  we  take?" 

"To  the  French  camp  at  Freiburg,  of  course." 

"No,  the  very  one  they  will  pursue  us  upon:  did  you  not 
hear  that  the  roads  which  lead  thither  are  infested  by  camp- 
followers.  Loss  of  time  is  nothing  compared  with  the  loss 
of  my  despatches.  Let  us  take  some  bridle  path  and  let 
them  give  chase  as  they  may  at  random." 


244  THE  SON  OF  POKrHOS;  OR, 

You  are  right.  They  will  also  try  to  throw  themselves 
between  us  and  the  only  bridge,  while  we  can  cross  at  an- 
other spot,  by  a  ferryman's  boat.  We  are  sure  to  reach  it 
by  keeping  to  the  riverside  as  soon  as  we  strike  it." 

"Forward  then,  into  the  woods;  but  I  am  sorry  not  to  have 
given  the  traitors  a  taste  of  my  steel  and  to  have  exchanged 
shots  with  the  villainous  innkeeper,  he,  with  his  long  gun,  I, 
with  my  pistols,  which  I  am  glad  to  retain  in  my  girdle." 


CHAPTER  XXVL 

A  TRICK  OF  WAR. 

JOEL  and  his  new  companion  were  riding  through  the 
wood  as  the  false  dawn  peeped:  but  it  was  gloomy  under  the 
trees  ;  their  horses  were  fatigued  by  the  soft  soil  of  rotted 
leaves  and  the  vines  which  caught  at  their  fetlocks. 

"Alas,"  the  young  woman  continued  her  revelation,  "  one 
may  not  choose  one's  parents,  and  my  mother — God  forgive 
her  !  one  whose  name  will  ever  arouse  a  shiver  of  terror  and 
horror.  She  was  a  midwife  when  she  fell  in  with  my  father, 
who  under  the  pretence  of  teaching  her  black  rnagic — for 
she  practiced  white  magic  and  told  fortunes  to  ladies — in- 
structed her  to  manufacture  poisons,  among  them  the  super- 
fine powder  which  floats  about  so  that  the  maker  must  wean 
a  glass  mask,  and  the  elixir  which  is  distilled  from  the  jewe>' 
in  the  toad's  head.  My  parents  kept  a  store  where  all  vices 
and  passions  could  find  help  and  satisfaction,  and  they  had 
numerous  customers — wives  whose  husbands  were  a  clog  up- 
on them,  husbands  whose  wives  were  their  incubi,  high-born 
dames  who  were  hampered  by  a  rival,  heirs  to  estate  who  had 
run  through  their  patrimony,  ambitious  statesmen  impatient 
to  be  promoted,  place-hunters,  enemies  who  flocked  hither 
to  buy  the  means  of  rapidly  contenting  their  interests  and 
wicked  propensities." 

"Hearken:"  interrupted  Joel,  as  he  heard  in  the  distance 
the  passing  of  a  troop  of  horse. 

In  the  silence  of  the  morning,  the  hoofs  on  the  clayey  soil 
of  the  highway  could  be  heai<i  distinct  as  blows  of  a  ham- 
mer. 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  245 

*They  are  our  pursuers,"  continued  he:  "they  are  at 
about  the  spot  where  we  turned  out  of  the  main  road:  tkey 
are  going  on — they  have  gone  on." 

The  sound  indeed  lessened  and  soon  died  entirely  away. ' 

"  It  was  there  that  I  first  saw  that  man  Walton,"  pro- 
ceeded Therese.  "He  went  by  the  name  of  the  Englishman, 
kecause  he  was  born  in  London  of  gipsy  parents.  He  is 
cowardly,  perfidious,  cruel,  rapacious,  and  abominably  per- 
verted :  but  he  is  active,  intelligent,  educated,  and  of  good- 
manners  and  artful  language.  It  was  he  whom  the  band  em- 
ployed to  negotiate  with  the  Marchioness  de  Montespan, 
through  her  maids,  when  she  purposed  compassing  the  King's 
removal." 

"The  King's  removal  ?"  repeated  Joel,  starting  in  the  sad- 
dle. 

"At  the  period,"  went  on  the  woman,emphatically,  "when 
the  Beautiful  Fontanges  was  preferred  to  her  by  Louis,  for 
the  moment " 

"Such  a  crime  is  impossible,"  protested  the  knight,  "and 
by  the  favorite  of  the  King  ?" 

"She  would  not  have  hesitated  to  sacrifice  her  royal  lover 

o  the  pain,  and  wrath,  and  shame  of  seeing  him  ensnared 

by  another.  Besides,  the  proof  of  what  I  assert  exists,  couched 

at  full  length  in  a  letter  written  by  the  marchioness  to  my  father 

to  ask  for  the  poison." 

Joel  did  not  hear  this  last  sentence,  as  he  was  listening  to 
a  sound  in  another  quarter.  A  rumble  was  heard  and  a  damp 
chilly  wind  came  to  fan  their  cheeks,  hot  with  the  riding. 

"It  is  the  river,"  said  Joel. 

Ten  minutes  after,  they  came  out  on  the  bank  of  an  arm 
of  the  Rhine,  swollen  by  rain  and  spread  widely  ;  the  moon 
slanted  as  it  paled  before  the  aurora  and  made  the  willow* 
seem  an  army  of  spectres.  As  they  followed  the  water  at  a  slow 
pace,  the  woman  pursued  : 

"How  was  I  entangled  by  such  a  miscreant?  Can  I  ex«J 
plain  the  infatuation  otherwise  than  by  the  circle  in  which  I 
was  brought  up  ?  Fanderers  and  witches,  sham  priests  and 
homicidal  chemists,  who  professed  nothing  but  the  cult  of  evil, 
feared  nothing  but  the  police  officers,  and  were  ignorant  of 
a  conscience.  In  short,  he  became  my  master,  to  the  ap- 
plause of  my  mother,  for  I  was  a  reproach  to  her  as  long 
as  I  remained  honest ;  my  father,  however,  who  loved  me  as 


146  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

the  tiger  loves  his  young  master,  alone  tried  to  wrest  QRO 
from  the  claws  of  this  devil. 

"He  will  kill  you  some  day,"  he  warned  me. 

"  At  least,  he  beat  me,  robbed  and  deceived  me,  but  I 
adored  him  all  '.he  same " 

"Is  not  that  the  house  you  meant!"  inquired  Joel. 

While  listening  to  the  tale,  he  continued  to  scat,  the 
ground,  and  as  he  spoke  he  stretched  out  his  hand  to  a 
cabin  of  logs  and  rudely  shaped  timber  by  the  riverside,  on  a 
knoll.  A  boat  was  bobbing  up  and  down  on  the  tumultuous 
tide  among  the  reeds,  at  the  end  of  a  chain  attached  to  a 
stake.  Leaping  down  from  his  horse,  the  chevalier  knocked 
on  the  door,  until  a  man's  voice  hallow'd  from  within  : 

"  Who  are  you,  and  what  do  you  want  ?" 

"  Friend,  we  are  in  want  of  your  help,"  replied  the  Bre- 
ton. 

"  We  will  pay  anything  you  ask  for  your  services,"  added 
the  woman  also  alighting. 

They  heard  the  clicking  of  flint  and  steel  as  the  fisher, 
man  struck  a  light.  The  door  opened  warily,  and  the  ferry, 
man  made  his  appearance  on  the  sill:  an  old  thickset  man, 
with  a  tanned  complexion,  who  held  up  a  lantern  to  examine 
the  visitors,  and  in  the  other  hand  held  a  boathook  to  de- 
fend his  home. 

"  Goodman,"  said  Joel,  "  we  want  to  be  put  on  the  othet 
side." 

"  It  is  not  easy  in  the  morning  fog  ;  the  current  is  swift 
and  my  flat  boat  is  leaky." 

"Service  of  the  King,"  returned  Joel,  "  and  if  we  are 
drowned  the  price  will  not  be  exacted  of  you.  And  on  my 
own  service,  you  must  obey  or  I  shall  be  forced  to  deal 
with  you  summarily.  Steel  or  silver — take  your  choice," 
And  he  slapped  his  sword-pommel. 

"  If  it  comes  to  that,"  replied  the  other,  frightened,  "I 
will  do  my  best  with  a  nail,  a  scrap  of  tarred  canvas  and  a 
plug " 

"How  much  time  is  this  work  to  take  ?" 

"Not  more  than  twenty  minutes,  I  suppose." 

"Be  it  so,'' said  the  young  officer,  with  a  stern  tone  that 
was  terrifying:  "  if  in  half-an-hour  at  the  farthest,  we  are  not 
in  the  middle  of  the  stream,  you  will  be  going  down  to  the 
bottom  of  it,  with  a  stone  round  your  neck." 


THE  DBA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  24? 

While  the  old  man  hurriedly  made  the  repairs  to  fit  the 
boat  for  the  three  to  cross,  by  the  lantern  light,  the  pair 
entered  the  cabin  and  sat  on  a  pile  of  rushes. 

"How  did  you  come  from  Paris  to  this  part  of  Lorraine 
and  Alsace  ?" 

"Alas,"  said  the  daughter  of  La  Voisin,  "what  was  fated 
came  to  pass.  Divine  clemency  was  worn  out,  and  human 
justice  was  goaded  on.  One  morning,  M.  Lareynie  had  all 
of  us  arrested,  and  the  Chambre  Ardent  took  up  our  case. 
My  unhappy  mother  was  condemned  to  capital  punishment 
and  was  executed  on  the  Execution-place  with  over  thirty 
of  her  accomplices.  My  father  was  kept  in  prison,  by  the 
royal  order  :  a  form  equivalent  to  perpetual  imprisonment. 
I  was  benefitted  by  my  youth,  and  my  lover  by  his  turn- 
ing evidence.  We  were  banished,  but,  after  a  tour  in  England, 
we  slipped  back  into  Paris  where  I  carried  on  the  harmless 
par  of  my  mother's  trade  in  the  Bouloi  Street,  under  the  name 
of  the  Manicarde.  I  was  soon  fashionable,  as  I  had  my  moth- 
er's craft  at  my  finger's  ends  and  Walton  knew  all  the  stories 
of  court  and  city  ladies.  But  I  was  in  fear  of  a  descent  of 
the  police,  and,  unnerved,  sick  of  the  business,  I  made  a 
bold  step  and  took  to  flight.  I  came  in  {his  direction  be- 
cause I  thought  that  war  would  be  a  bar  to  justice.  I  hoped, 
too,  that  my  lover  would  never  meet  me.  In  this  I  was 
wrong,  for  he  overtook  me  at  Brisach  and  the  bond  was  fas- 
tened on  me  again.  He  talked  of  entering  into  the  pay  of 
Duke  Charles,  sure  to  welcome  any  enemy  of  France.  If  we 
had  nothing  to  sell  him,  he  proposed  Pushing  on  to  Vienna, 
where  he  expected  me  to  dupe  some  court  lady  and  obtain 
state  secrets  which  we  might  dispose  of  to  the  highest  bidder. 
In  short,  we  might  thus  return  to  Paris,  to  resume  the  old 
trade.  But  this  time  the  scales  fell  from  my  eyes.  I  un- 
derstood that  this  man  was  an  enemy  of  our  race,  and  shame 
drove  out  of  me  the  mad  passion  for  him.  But  I  am  a  woman, 
feeble,  and  seeking  an  aid — you  came  across  my  path 

and 

"Unfortunately,  I  cannot  take  you  into  the  camp,"  objected 
the  chevalier. 

"It  matters  not,  I  have  already  spoken  of  the  convent. 
Well,  I  have  jewels  to  pay  for  my  entrance  into  some  holy 
house;  I  am  eager  for  oblivion  and  repose.  I  wish  to  sink 
Into  the  protective  shadow  of  the  cross,  where  I  will  knee} 


THE  SON  OF  PORTHOSi  OR. 

to  implore  pardon  for  my  faults.  I  wish  to  repent  and  pray 
—pray  for  my  mother,  who  has  expiated  her  crimes  upom 
the  pyre,  and  for  my  father,  who  will  expiate  his  in  some 
dungeon " 

"You  have  spoken  some  names,  but  I  do  not  formally  know 
what  are  those  of  your  father  and  mother." 

"It  costs  me  something  to  utter  them,  before  which  the 
Parisians  cross  themselves  as  at  sight  of  an  infernal  appari- 
tion. Nevertheless,  if  you  insist " 

"Do  not  believe  that  it  is  mere  curiosity  which  impels  me. 
My  persistancy  has  another  cause  and  another  aim.  I  am 
charged  with  a  deposit,  and  you  may  be  the  very  person  for 
whom  it  is  intended." 

"What  deposit — what  person— speak!" 

If  he  had  spoken,  she  would  not  have  heard,  for  louder 
than  his  voice  sounded  one  on  the  bank: 

"There  the  are!  I  recognize  my  horse,  tied  to  that  tree. 
Ten  crowns  to  whoever  will  dash  down  and  prevent  them 
mounting." 

•The  boat,"  shouted  Joel,  springing  oat  of  t'he  cabin. 

"It  is  fit.     Step  in  !     I  am  in  haste  to  put  off." 

The  chevalier  took  the  woman  up  in  his  arms  and  placed 
her  in  she  boat.  But  the  old  man  lost  his  wits  as  the  enemy 
came  down  the  bank,  forced  to  dismount  and  lead  their  hors- 
es, and  threatening  to  reach  them  in  a  mass.  His  trembling 
hand  made  a  blunder  in  detaching  the  rope  on  the  stake  and 
he  gasped  :  "Holy  Mother  !"  without  any  progress. 

*'  Never  mind  that — get  to  your  pole  to  push  her  off,"  said 
Joelf  and  seizing  the  stake,  driven  deeply  into  the  bank,  he 
pfucked  it  up  as  easily  as  a  gardener  draws  a  radish  from  fh« 
soil. 

"Take  care  chevalier,  take  care  !"  screamed  the  woman 

Three  of  the  ruffians  whom  the  prisoner  had  already  picked 
up  on  the  road,  ventured  to  ride  down  the  steep  bank. 
Two  had  their  swords  flourished,  the  other  held  a  pistol 
in  hand.  On  the  water's  edge,  they  reined  in,  pulling 
up  their  horses  on  their  haunches,  and  encircled  the  young 
office!  He  had  in  his  grasp  the  stake,  a  pile  fit  to  be 
driven  under  a  bridge.  He  swung  it  round  like  a  mace, 
and  for  a  minute  the  medley  was  dreadful  of  the  crushing 
blows,  the  crash  of  falls,  the  shrieks,  the  oaths,  and  the  neighs 
•f  horses.  All  three  reiters  were  hurled  from  the  saddles  » 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMlz.  549 

the  two  swords  flung  fifteen  paces  off,  and  the  pistol  im- 
bedded in  the  fist  of  the  man  who  had  discharged  it  ,  he 
Jay  on  his  back  in  the  ooze,  senseless.  His  comrades  had 
a  broken  arm  and  a  broken  jaw.  The  victor's  cheek  was 
black  with  powder  and  his  luxuriant  locks  were  singed,  but, 
unharmed,  he  stepped  into  the  boat  and  with  a  vigorous 
push  of  the  stake,  he  sent  it  off  into  the  flood. 

When  the  rest  of  the  ruffians  reached  the  verge,  the  scow 
was  out  of  reach.  Walton  and  Braun  foamed  at  the  mouth 
with  ire.  He  urged  his  horse  into  the  water  as  if  to  swim 
it  after  the  fugitives;  and  shook  his  cane  at  the  Son  of  Por- 
thos,  as  he  road  in  the  stirrups,  yelling: 

"Ah,  you  dog!" 

At  this  insult,  Joel's  temper  was  ruffled,  and  snatching  a 
pistol  from  his  belt,  he  fired  at  the  speaker.  But  at  that 
moment,  the  horse  floundered  in  a  raudhole  and  Walton's 
head  was  at  a  lower  level.  It  was  Braun  who  received  the 
large  bullet  in  the  chest  and  he  staggered  back  and  slowly 
slipped  down  out  of  the  saddle. 

"Go  no  farther,"  said  one  of  the  party  to  Walton:  "The 
river  is  treacherous — if  your  horse  loses  footing  in  the 
deeper  places,  you " 

The  scoundrel  did  not  hear:  green  with  bile  and  anger, 
with  a  bloodshot  eye  and  a  quivering  lip,  he  hissed: 

"They  are  escaping — no,  they  shall  not  escape  me!" 

The  second  shot  from  Joel  cut  off  one  of  his  lovelocks  as 
clean  as  though  scissors  had  clipped  it,  and  left  a  red  seam 
along  side  his  temple.  The  pain  only  maddened  him  and  he 
roared: 

"You  have  your  muskets.  Fire  on  them,  comrades,  fire 
on  all  in  the  boat !" 

The  scow  was  but  slowly  leaving  the  bank  as  the  rapid 
current  was  full  of  eddies,  and  it  went  badly  in  spite  of  Joel, 
laying  down  his  empty  pistol  and  taking  the  pole  to  assist 
the  old  man  in  punting. 

The  reiters  hastened  to  unhook  their  guns  from  the  saddle 
horns. 

"Lie  down,"  commanded  Joel  to  the  woman  while  he 
placed  himself  like  a  bulwark  to  the  boatman.  Thus  they 
awaited  the  discharge  of  about  half  the  battery  already  in 
position. 

Six  or  seven   shots   souv>d«4,  and   the   bullets  whizzed 


350  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR. 

around  the  flatboat  :  the  fisher  peeped  back,  but  at  this,  a 
whirl  swung  the  boat  so  that  he  was  left  uncovered  by  Joel, 
and  a  straggling  bullet  pierced  his  brain  by  the  ear,  after 
grazing  the  Breton  •  the  unfortunate  man  lost  his  balance 
and  fell  over  the  low  side,  still  convulsirely  clutching  the 
pole.  This  loss  was  hailed  by  a  shout  of  coarse  exultation 
by  the  rude  soldiers  on  the  shore,  and  those  who  had  not 
fired,  levelled  to  obey  Walton's  order.  He  on  his  horse  were 
swimming  in  the  wake  of  the  boat,  of  which  Joel  took  both 
oars  to  try  to  navigate  it  across  the  channel. 

"  Down,  down  1"  cried  he  to  Therese,  who  had  lifted  her 
head,  but  the  caution  came  too  late. 

"  Aim  low,"  Walton  had  shouted,  hoping  that  the  boat 
would  be  injured  if  no  one  in  it  were  hit  :  and  most  of  the 
missiles  flew  along  the  surface  of  the  stream 

Again  the  volley  was  followed  by  a  straggling  shot  or  two, 
and  tiie  woman,  who  had  thought  that  the  general  discharge 
was  all  to  be  feared  and  who  rose  a  little  to  make  sure  tb«t 
her  defender  were  uninjured,  was  struck  :  she  rolled  in  the 
hollow  of  the  scow,  murmuring  : 

"  Lord,  have  pity  on  me — have  pity  on  the  daughter  of 
Therese  Lesage — and  La  Voisin  !" 

What  deepened  her  pain  was  to  see  the  stalwart  form  of 
the  chevalier  reel  like  a  tree  to  the  trunk  of  which  an  ax  had 
been  vigorously  laid  :  he  let  the  oars  drop,  but  inside  the  gun- 
nel, and  was  soon  extended  across  the  thwarts  without  a  tre- 
mor. 

"Hussa  !"  laughed  Walton,  who  had  fallen  into  the  cur- 
rent and  was  being  sped  towards  the  scow,  itself  turning 
round  and  round  on  its  centre  in  a  whirlpool.  "  Cease  fir- 
ing, or  you  will  hit  me — I  can  deal  with  them  now." 

But  again  the  conflicting  flows  played  a  trick:  one  current 
caught  the  boat  and  spun  it  towards  the  opposite  bank  at 
good  speed  which  made  the  next  shots  unlikely  to  fall  true  : 
besides,  the  same  flux  carried  Walton  and  his  horse  into  the 
line  of  fire. 

The  dawn  had  fully  come,  and  objects  began  to  be  defined 
as  the  mists  rolled  away. 

The  sham  Englishman  laughed  as  he  beat  his  horse  'co 
swim  more  fleetly.  Then,  shifting  the  cane  into  his  left  hand, 
he  extended  the  other  to  seize  the  gunnel  of  the  flat:  he 
gloated  on  the  splashes  of  blood,  on  the  pale  and  still  fig* 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  251 

•re  of  the  woman  and  on  the  huge  body  of  the  Breton,  who 
had  baffled  his  schemes.  All  his  triumph  was  in  hand's 
reach,  indeed. 

"I  have  them/'  he  called  out. 

At  the  same  moment  his  exhausted  horse  failed  him,  and 
as  he  felt  it  sinking  from  between  his  legs  he  grasped  the 
edge  of  the  boat  with  both  hands:  the  cane  fell  within  the 
side.  To  his  horror,  Joel  rose  with  a  turn  upon  his  knees 
and  made  his  hands  encircle  his  throat  with  a  grip  impossi- 
ble for  a  man  thrice  his  strength  to  disengage. 

"Pray  your  last,"  said  the  Breton,  "the  French  dog  gives 
«  deadly  bite!" 

Then  rising,  he  held  up  the  strangled  adventurer  in  clear 
View  of  his  friends  on  the  opposite  bank  and  contemptuously 
hurled  him  into  the  stream  in  their  direction.  A  shower 
of  bullets  played  ducks  and  drakes  on  the  surface  about 
him,  but  he  was  out  of  range.  In  another  instant  the  boat 
came  to  a  stop,  in  shoals  by  the  edge.  Joel  lifted  the  motion- 
less body  of  the  woman  in  his  arms  and  bounded  upon 
ffche  shore. 

He  was  climbing  the  ridge  when  a  body  of  armed  men 
appeared  on  horses  and  with  musketoons  ready  for  use  held 
iby  the  thigh. 

"Who  goes  there  ?"  was  their  challenge  in  French. 

It  was  a  French  patrol. 

"France  !"  replied  our  hero,  who  felt  in  safety. 

"Drop  weapons  and  advance  !" 

As  the  bearer  of  Therese  obeyed,  the  sun  rose  behind  the 
forest,  the  whole  scene  was  suddenly  illumined,  arid  a  flood 
of  exclamations  broke  out  on  both  sides  : 

"What  a  meeting  ! — The  Breton  of  St.  Fiacre's  Oak  ! — the 
adversary  of  our  Corporal  Bregy  !" 

"What  a  providential  chance,"  said  Joel,  no  less  aston- 
ished. "My  Musketeers  of  St.  Germain  Forest — Messieurs' 
•de  Gace,  Escrivaux,  Hericourt  and  Champagnac." 

The  cavaliers  poured  question  upon  question  on  him  : 

"Where  do  you  spring  from,  in  this  dress,  and  loaded  with 
this  blood-sprinkled  corpse  ?" 

"Gentlemen,  I  will  explain  all  later,"  rejoined  the  young 
knight,  "  but  let  us  think  of  this  hapless  woman  now.  In 
heaven's  name  help  to  what  ike  needs — shelter,  a  bed  and 
uuccor !" 


H2  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

"Hump,"  coughed  the  old  officer  commanding  the  patrol 
"it  is  my  opinion  that  the  sufferer  has  more  call  for  a  con- 
fessor than  a  doctor,  but,  never  mind,  let  us  do  the  usua\ 
thing.  Those  gentlemen  may  help  you  to  carry  her  to  the 
first  house  on  the  road  to  camp,  while  I  attend  to  this  knot 
of  rough-looking  gentry  on  the  other  bank." 

With  the  oars  a  litter  was  improvised,  and  wrapped  in  a 
horseman's  cloak,  the  woman  was  transported  to  a  farm- 
house. In  the  meantime  the  rioters  had  decamped  on  see- 
ing the  armed  force  able  to  exchange  shot  for  shot.  They 
had  no  wish  to  stop  under  fire  to  fish  for  the  body  of  Walton, 
doomed  to  feed  the  fish  of  the  Rhine. 

The  farmer's  wife  undressed  the  woman  and  put  her  to 
bed.  Temporary  dressing  was  applied  with  lint  and  band- 
ages, but  the  wound  left  little  hope  :  the  projectile  had  gone 
clear  through  the  body.  On  her  sniffing  vinegar  and  rubbing 
her  temples  with  it,  she  appeared  at  last  to  recover  life.  A 
fleeting  color  tinted  her  cheeks,  while  her  lips  fluttered  and 
her  eyes  opened.  She  cast  a  dim  look  around  her,  vacil- 
lating and  without  brightness. 

Toel,  who  had  not  quitted  her,  bent  over  her. 
'  Do  you  know  me  ?"  he  inquired. 

The  gaze  brightened  in  token  of  recognition. 

"  Can  you  hear  and  understand  me  ? "  he  further  ques- 
tioned. 

The  eyes  made  the  same  response  :  and  he  turned  to  the 
bystanders,  saying  :  "  Leave  me  alone  for  a  space  with  her, 
as  I  must  speak  to  her." 

Everybody  went  out.  leaving  the  man  beside  the  pillow  : 
he  held  one  of  her  icy  hands  in  his. 

"  So  you  are  the  daughter  of  Pierre  Lesage  and  La  Voii- 
in?" 

"Yes,"  she  nodded,  ashamed,  and  using  a  voice  scarcely 
above  a  breath.  "I  horrify  you,  do  I  not?"  she  said  with 
pain  and  with  an  effort. 

"  I  have  been  looking  for  you,  my  poor  Therese,  in  order 
to  hand  you  this  object,"  and  he  drew  the  locket  from  his 
bosom  and  presented  it  to  her.  Her  eyes  dilated  with  as- 
tonishment as  she  recognized  the  memento  from  prisoner 
141. 

Yes,  I  know  this  trinket — it  ^belonged  to  nay   father. 
How  did  it  come  into  your  possession  ?" 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMiS.  253 

**I  had  it  from  the  rightful  owner — Pierre  Lesage        •** 

"  You  have  seen  him  ?"  she  faintly  screamed, 

"I  have  seen  him  and  spoken  to  him,  in  the  Bastille——** 

"  Was  he  detained  there  ?  I  thought  it  was  in  Vincennes 
Castle.  Good  heavens  !  how  long  may  he  not  be  imprisoned 
there  ?" 

"He  has  already  left  it — more  than  six  weeks  ago,  he 
died." 

He  related  his  meeting  with  his  fellow-prisoner  and  how 
he  had  a  doubt  about  the  sincerity  of  the  provision  of  means 
to  escape  which  he  owed  to  Walton 

"The  villain — how  right  I  was  to  quit  him.  He  alone  es- 
caped the  quick  doom  of  the  transgressor." 

"  Not  so  :  he  was — drowned  in  the  river,"  said  Joel 

"  All  have  gone  to  the  other  world,"  muttered  the  woman, 
"  after  their  strange  destinies  here.  How  will  the  heavenly 
Judge  receive  my  father  and  my  mother  ?  How  will  their 
daughter  be  received  ?" 

She  repulsed  the  locket. 

"Keep  it,'*  said  she.  "It  is  a  talisman,  which  will  bring 
to  the  bearer  who  knows  how  to  use  it,  all  that  human  ambi- 
tion can  dream  of :  riches,  credit,  honors,  and  power  !  it  is  a 
letter  which  proves  what  I  affirmed  to  you  in  the  boatman's 
hut,  but  which  you  refused  to  believe.  In  this  the  Marchion- 
ess de  Montespan,  furious  at  the  King  casting  her  off  in 
favor  of  La  Fontanges,  asks  Pierre  Lesage  and  LaVoisin  for 
poison  with  which  to  rid  herself  of  her  rival  and  revenge  her- 
self upon  her  lover.  This  avowal  is  complete  and  signed. 
She  must  have  been  love-sick  to  have  made  such  a  confession, 
monstrous  imprudence  !  but  is  it  not  written  that  they  whom 
heaven  would  destroy  is  first  made  mad  ?  However  that 
maybe,  that  scrawl  placed  under  King  Louis*  eyes, may 
send  the  proud  marchioness  into  Lesage's  prison  or  to  La 
Voisin's  pyre  !  Either  he  or  she  will  buy  it  at  any  price, 
for  though  the  sovereign  escaped,  pooi  Fontanges  lies  in  the 
grave.  From  one  or  the  other,  you  see,  the  holder  is  sure  to 
obtain  whatever  he  likes  to  demand.  I  give  you  this  paper 
and  the  locket** 

"  To  me  ?" 

"To  him  who  witnesses  my  last  moments,  as  you  almost 
Witnessed  those  of  my  poor  father." 

"What  would  you  have  me  do  with  this  poisoned  weapom? 


2$4  THE  SON  OF  PORTHQS ;  OR, 

I  am  not  of  the  school  of  the  Montespans.  Beside^  sh* 
has  retired  from  the  court  in  disgrace." 

Something  like  a  smile  flitted  over  the  dying  one's  lips. 

"Oh,  chevalier,  it  is  plain  that  you  are  a  novice  in  court 
matters  !  A  favorite  never  falls  so  low  that  she  may  not  on 
the  wings  of  evil  soar  to  the  point  whence  she  fell.  Time 
and  again  she  seemed  to  have  lost  her  power,  but  each  time 
she  retook  her  place  and  marked  her  return  with  cruel  blow 
of  revenge." 

"  But  deuce  take  me  if  I  hardly  more  than  know  your  mar- 
chioness !"  returned  Joel,  animatedly.  "  I  am  neither  hev 
liege  nor  her  enemy.  Why  should  I  be  armed  against  her?" 

The  woman  raised  upon  him  eyes  in  which  were  the  dark 
depths  of  the  eternal  night.  With  a  tone  that  seemed  that 
of  a  spirit  of  another  world,  she  said  : 

"  The  veil  over  the  future  is  rent  for  those  about  to  die  ; 
and  moreover,  I  have  the  gift  of  second  sight.  I  see  that  you 
must  struggle  with  that  woman  for  your  dear  ones " 

Joel  started,  for  a  vision  of  Aurore  rushed  across  a  scent 
and  his  heart  felt  a  pang. 

"  Keep  the  locket — preserve  it  for  her  guard — to  save 
her !"  persisted  Therese  in  a  weakening  voice.  "  And  as  a 
keepsake  from  me,  who  would  have  loved  you  with  all  hei 
soul — had  you  been  free  and  I  not  unworthy  of  you  !" 

As  though  ashamed  of  the  avowal  escaping  her,  she  seized 
the  sheet  with  both  hands  and  tried  to  cover  her  face  ;  but 
her  arms  relaxed  and  then  stiffened.  The  linen  fell,  and 
her  eyes  closed  as  the  door  opened  to  admit  the  doctor  who 
had  been  sent  for.  He  looked  for  a  moment  on  the  white 
face,  idealized  by  death  to  the  extreme  of  human  beauty,  and 
taking  off  his  hat  with  a  grave  movement,  he  said : 

"  This  woman  is  beyond  our  cares." 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 
TO  WIN  HIS  WIFE! 

THE  town  of  Freiburg  was  a  difficult  place  from  its  strength 
of  position  and  sorely  teased  the  rough  and  fierce  captain 
who  beleaguered  it,  when  Ensign  Joel  de  Locmaria  arrived 
at  last  before  it. 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  35  J 

His  new  friends  had  accompanied  him  as  mourners  when 
Therese  Lesage  was  borne  to  her  grave  in  Alt-Brisach  cem- 
etery, leave  having  been  accorded  by  their  captain  of  light 
horse,  M.  de  la  Berange,  although  every  man  was  wanted  in 
the  trenches.  On  their  reaching  Waldau,  they  found  that 
Marsual  Crequy  had  left  his  head  quarters  for  a  reconnais- 
sance in  force,  and  they  persuaded  Joel  to  await  his  return. 

As  they  approached  the  trenches  freshly  dug  before  the 
Herdern  suburb,  they  saw  a  tumult  among  the  soldiers:  light 
cavalry  men  hadalignted,  tied  up  their  horses  and  surround- 
ed a  gioup  of  officers  wnona  they  were  threatening  with  voice 
and  fist.  The  friends  of  Joel  rode  up  with  him,  also  dis- 
mounted and  hitched  their  horses,  and  ran  up. 

"  What  is  the  matter  r"  they  inquired. 

"  It  is  the  marshi'.,""  ^^  a  bowman.  ~  He  is  making 
fools  of  us.  Not  content  with  using  us  as  footsoldiers,  he 
wants  us  to  go  into  the  trenches  and  use  the  pick  and  spade 
like  sappers  and  miners." 

In  the  t;hick  of  the  riot,  Captain  Beranges's  voice  arose;, 
addressed  to  someone  whom  the  Breton  could  not  perceiv*. 

*'You  see,  sir,"  he  said,  "that  my  soldiers  refuse  to  lend  a 
band  in  such  dirty  work.  I  will  try  to  dissuade  the  marshal 
from  requiring  it — in  the  meantime,  pray  seek  the  diggers 
and  delvers  somewhere  else.  " 

"But  I  tell  you  again,  captain,"  replied  another  voice, "  that 
Major-general  Basset  of  the  Artillery  has  given  me  orders  to 
take  fifty  of  your  men  to  help  finish  this  trench  and  mount 
my  mortars — and  by  all  the  gods  !  take  them  I  will  ?  though 
I  have  to  grasp  them  by  the  collar  and  drag  them  to  the 
work. " 

"I  beg  to  advise  you  to  try  nothing  of  the  sort,  as  my  men 
are  very  excited  and  they  may  forget  the  rules  of  the  ser- 
vice. " 

"How  now  ?"  muttered  the  Breton,  "do  my  can  deceirt 
me  ?  I  seem  to  have  heard  that  captious  voice  before — and 
that  style  of  carrying  all  before  him  ! " 

Meanwhile  the  disputatious  officer,  picking  out  one  of  thf 
light  horsemen,  said  : 

"I  say,  you  with  your  elongated  body,  begin  by  taking 
that  mattock  and  set  an  example  to  your  comrades." 

The  person  addressed  did  not  move. 

''Did  you  not  hear  me  ? " 


i*6  THE  SON  Of  PORTHOSi  OR. 

*M  neard  you  plain  enough,** 

"Obey  then,  or " 

"1  obey  only  my  own  officers,  gentlemen  who  wear  my 
uniform  and  who  measure  more  than  a  span  from  the  crowq 
to  the  sole  !" 

There  was  general  laughter  and  the  officer  grew  more  angry 

"You  rascal !"  he  said. 

*'  Softly,  softly,  Master  Bombardier,"  returned  the  cav- 
alryman jokingly,  "Do  not  rush  at  me  like  that — you  might 
stumble  into  the  funnel-tops  of  your  boots  and  it  would  be 
the  devil's  own  work  to  find  you  in  them  !" 

The  hilarity  increased,  and  the  exasperated  bombardier 
called  out  : 

"Sergeant  Bonlarron  !" 

"Present"  and  a  tall  old  fellow  in.  a  steel  cap,  scrambled 
out  of  the  trench. 

"Sergeant,  take  hold  of  this  saucebox  of  exaggerated  di» 
mensions  for  a  light  horseman — the  one  who  is  laughing  so 
loudly — and  take  him  to  the  provost-marshal  to  be  correcte4 
with  the  strappado." 

"Very  well,  sir  !'  and  the  tall  soldier  strode  towards  the 
horseman  designated:  but  when  he  stretched  out  his  hand  to 
seize  him,  he  diew  back  and  laid  his  hand  on  his  sword,  growl- 
ing : 

You  mud-splasher  ( footsoldier )  I  don't  dare  to  finger 
me!" 

"Beware,  sir,"  said  Berange,  "I  warn  you  that  my  men 
will  not  allow  their  comrade  to  be  pulled  about." 

"Not  by  a  mannikin  !" 

"Mannikin  !  these  insults  ureet  not  be  borne.  Here,  my 
bombardiers." 

The  gunners  darted  out  of  the  trench,  brandishing  their 
digging  implements. 

"Sir,  I  shall  hold  you  responsible  for  any  bloodshed,"  said 
the  cavalry  officer. 

"And  I  shall  hold  you  responsible  for  the  disobedience  and 
insolence  of  your  soldiers — mutineers  whom  I  shall  chastise 
—hang,  draw  and  quarter  for  their  abuse.  At  them,  my  lads, 
and  well  flog  the  foul-mouths  !  "  He  whipped  out  his  sword, 
in  which  act  he  was  imitated  by  his  sergeant  and  men. 

"Come,  come,"  muttered  Joel,  '  it  is  high  time  that  * 
cool  head  intervened." 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  157 

He  plunged  into  the  riot  and  appeared  among  the  flashing 
blades,  picks  and  spades  raised  in  attack  and  defence. 

"My  friend  Joel!" — "My  lodger  of  the  Blakamoor." 

So  exclaimed  the  bombardier  captain  and  his  sergeant, 
whom  the  Breton  cordially  saluted. 

"But  put  up  your  swords!  I  must  say  that  you  are  both 
wrong.  You  in  the  first  place,  my  comrade,"  he  went  on 
to  Friquet,  "with  such  bullying,  imperious  and  aggressive 
manners  in  asking  even  for  a  proper  thing  that  one  is  always 
tempted  to  send  you  to  the  deuce  with  'our  touchy,  quarrel- 
some temper.  Hang  it  all!  it  is  not  the  tault  of  his  Majesty's 
lighthorse-men  that  they  should  stand  a  head  and  shoulders 
above  you.  Overlook  this  accidental  superiority  and  com- 
fort yourself  with  the  old  saying  that  the  best  things  are  done 
up  in  the  smallest  packets." 

*'That  is  certain,"  grumbled  the  pigmy,  sheathing  his  rapier, 
"and  the  ladies  always  give  the  preference  to  the  neat,  little, 
dapper  gallants  who  never  attain  the  bulk  of  your  Olympian 
Jupiters." 

Joel  had  turned  to  Berange  and  said:  "Captain,  in  all  defer- 
ence allow  me  to  observe  that  it  would  have  been  handsomer 
of  you  to  carry  out  the  King's  orders,  for  you  are  no  less  his 
man  because  you  have  a  horse  between  your  legs.  What  are 
we  all  sent  here  for  but  to  take  Freiburg:  and  to  do  so,  a 
blow  with  the  pick  is  as  good  as  a  cut  of  the  sword.  There  is 
as  much  honor  in  being  shot  at  while  digging  a  ditch  as  in 
galloping  across  the  field." 

At  that  instant,  as  though  to  give  point  to  the  speech,  a 
puff  of  white  smoke  rose  on  one  of  the  bastions  of  the  strong- 
hold. A  cannon  shot  resounded,  and  the  ball  buried  itself 
in  one  of  the  sandbags  covering  the  trench's  t^?.ulement. 
The  bag  was  burst  and  Joel  disappeared  in  a  shower  of  dirt: 
emerging  and  dusting  himself,  he  continued  calmly:  "Now 
you  will  see  the  utility  of  this  work." 

A  second  explosion  was  heard,  and  this  time  it  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  deathcry,  for  a  splash  of  blood  half  covered  the 
speaker:  the  besieged  had  improved  on  their  aim  at  the  crowd, 
and  the  ball  had  struck  Captain  Berange  in  the  chest.  A 
terrible  clamor  uprose  from  the  men  in  dread  as  the  captain 
expired.  Champagnac  threw  a  cloak  over  him,  while  the  rest 
looked  on  in  silence,  pale  and  awed. 

"  Had  the  front  of  that  trench  been  opened,"  said  our 


358  'THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR. 

hero  coldly,  "  that  brave   gentleman  would  still  be 

Without  a  further  word,  he  picked  up  a  spade  and  set  to 
filling  a  gabion.  Everybody  followed  his  example,  as  if 
fever  moved  all.  Light-horsemen  and  artillerists,  officers  and 
privates,  they  ran  for  tools  and  to  fall  into  working  order. 
A  furious  cannonade  from  the  enemy  did  not  throw  a  damper 
on  this  ardor,  so  that  by  nightfall  tne  cutting  was  a  fit  lodg- 
ment and  strongly  occupied. 

"'Sblood!"  exclaimed  Friquet,  as  he  and  Bonlarron  felici- 
tated Joel,  "this  is  fabulous,  stupefying  and  pyramidical  !  to 
renew  old  acquaintance  undsr  the  enemy's  cannon  fire  1  Oh, 
my  vajiant,  faithful  Joel  1" 

"  But  only  look  at  this,"  went  on  the  sergeant,  "  he  sportu 
the  uniform  of  our  regiment — with  the  officer's  insignia — ht» 
must  be  the  ensign  we  were  expecting  to  see  !" 

There  was  an  exchange  of  stories.  Bonlarron  had  sold  oui 
by  reason  of  the  police  having  plagued  the  Blackamoor  since 
the  substitution  of  Friquet  for  the  duellist,  and  he  had  en . 
listed  under  the  flag  of  the  new  corps  of  bombardiers  which 
Friquet  had  the  appointment  to  command. 

"As  for  you — we  can  see  that  you  have  found  your  sire 
and  the  happy  Porthos  has  procured  his  son  a  grade  suitable 
to  his  birth  and  rank " 

Joel  felt  his  heart  smart  as  if  burning.  Violent  color,  a 
hot  flush  mounted  to  his  cheek  and  he  stammered  in  embar- 
rassment : 

"No,  it  is  not  as  you  think — I  have  not  had  that  great 
good  fortune " 

His  confusion  was  interrupted  by  Captain  Friquet  being 
called  away  by  the  major-general  of  the  artillery.  Silence  and 
rest  presided  over  the  camp  and  town  at  night.  In  the  out- 
posts nobody  was  awake  save  the  sentinels  and  Joel.  H« 
could  not  sleep  from  the  remorse  which  Friquet's  words  had 
aroused  in  his  bosom.  Was  he  acting  right  in  what  he  waa 
doing?  conscience  answered  no!  He  had  not  quitted  his  na 
live  place  to  be  a  happy  man  ;  to  win  the  love  of  Aurore  dw 
Tremblay  and  marry  her  for  a  life  of  peace,  no  more  than  to 
lead  one  of  war  :  but  to  seek  out  the  unknown.  On  her  death-- 
bed his  mother  had  imposed  this  task  upon  him,  and  hu 
had  promised  to  devote  his  entire  life  unto  it.  He  said  to 
himself  that  he  should  not  have  acquired  the  right  to  enioy 
bis  bliss  until  he  found  it  impossible  to  ascertain  the  fat,  of 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARA^fS.  259 

the  companion  of  Athos,  Aramis  and  d'Artagnan.  His  res- 
olution was  taken  in  a  minute.  He  would  lay  the  case  before 
Marshal  Cre"quy,  who  would  no  doubt  excuse  him  from  lin- 
gering out  ius  time  at  a  siege  which  was  a  work  of  duration 
in  those  days.  He  would  return  to  Paris  and  apply  to  that 
old  man  of  such  experience  and  wisdom,  the  Dude  of  Almada. 
Surely  he  would  point  out  the  means  for  the  young  man  to 
recommence  and  carry  his  investigation  to  the  end. 

This  course  debated  and  settled  within  himself,  he  wa« 
tranquillized  and  could  slumber,  awaiting  the  morrow.  He 
was  tight  at  first  in  his  conjectures  for,  on  reading  the  des- 
patches, the  general  gave  the  bearer  a  kindly  glance.  Un- 
fortunately there  was  a  postscript  to  the  paper  recommend* 
ingthe  young  cornet,  and  the  signature  of  **  Louis  the  King,' 
made  the  veteran  start.  He  read  it  over  again  with  delib- 
eration, like  one  who  has  a  cipher  despatch  under  his  eye  and 
fears  he  is  missing  some  hidden  mearrng.  At  intervals  he 
observed  the  officer  as  the  latter  was  preparing  to  utter  his 
petition  to  be  sent  back  to  the  capital. 

"Chevalier,"  said  the  marshal,  "the  King  asks  me  to 
keep  you  by  me  to  the  end  of  the  campaign  to  spare  you 
not  any  occasions  to  distinguish  yourself.  You  have  cora- 
menced  very  well  by  bringing  your  messages  through,  over  a 
very  dangerous  route.  Still  I  shall  conform  to  his  Majesty's 
desires,  as  he  wants  you  to  return  to  the  ladies  of  the  court 
like  a  Cyrus.  Achilles  or  Hector." 

Alackaday  !  all  the  young  officer's  hopes  were  blown  to 
shreds.  He  could  not  think  of  quitting  the  army,  as  the 
King  had  written  to  the  contrary  and  he  must  obey. 

"  Meanwhile,"  said  Cre*quy,  "if  I  can  do  anything  special 

for  you " 

"  Forsooth,  general,  I  have  a  great  favor  to  solicit  of  yout 
bounty  ;  but  I  comprehend  that  it  would  be  taxing  too  far, 
and  I  shall  content  myself  by  doing  my  duty,  in  the  company 
to  which  his  Majesty  appointed  me  ensign. ' 

**The  new  cannoneers,  I  believe!  I  will  recommend  you  to 

the  captain — " 

"  Captain  Friquet  and  I  are  old  friends  — we  once  met  in 
a  duel.  But  all  I  wanted  was  a  piece  of  information,  a 
clue  to  the  length  of  the  campaign  and  if  I  dared  to  ask  on 

what  it  depends " 

Crequy  stretched  out  his  hand  towards  the  town,  say- 
ing: 


260  THE  SON  OF  PUR  THUS;  UJi. 

''Therefis  the  end  of  the  campaign.  That  is  the  eyrie  fronr 
which  Duke  Charles  reckons  to  swoop  to  tear  Lorraine  from 
us;  that  imperial  fortress  is  the  sword  of  Damocles,  impend- 
ing over  our  Alsace — his  foothold  when  he  springs  forward 
in  attack,  his  rest  when  he  wants  to  recruit,  his  line  of  re- 
treat in  case  of  defeat.  Freiburg  taken,  young  man,  is  the 
key  to  Vienna  in  our  grasp  :  the  ruin  of  the  LorrainePrince's 
hopes  :  the  proof  to  the  Emperor  Leopold  of  the  rash- 
ness and  invanity  of  his  plighted  brother-in-law's  enterprises 
against  France  and  a  preliminary  to  his  repudiation  of 
him.  That  is  why  I  am  bound  to  take  Freiburg,"  he  conclud- 
ed, after  a  pause." 

"Why  not  at  once,"  cried  Joel,  with  eye  ablaze. 

"Young  man,  you  are  too  hasty,"  said  the  old  war-dog, 
"it  is  meet  to  be  brave  but  one  must  take  heed  not  to  be  pre- 
sumptious.  Do  you  not  see  that  citadel  encrusted  in  the 
mountain — the  Castle.  Do  you  talk  of  taking  that,  withou* 
my  having  hippogriffs  on  which  to  mount  you  young  gentle- 
men? I  might  reach  that  point  with  the  loss  of  half  my  men 
— but,  then,  there  would  be  that  fortalice  to  take  !  a  gar- 
ison  to  subdue  and  the  population  who  would  fight  behind 
walls  and  use  against  us  fire,  stone,  water  and  iron!  No,  no, 
dash  it  all!  let  us  be  patient,  and  play  the  mole,  with  sap  and 
mine  !  When  the  beach  is  open,  your  old  general  will  show 
you  the  way." 

"1  see,"  thought  the  young  ensign,  "since  it  is  to  be  a  duel 
at  long  shots,  I  will  jog  Friquet  to  hurry  up  matters,  other- 
wise  " 

"What  would  happen  otherwise?"  questioned  the  marshal 
who  had  overheard  the  monologue. 

"Well,  I  shall  have  to  take  the  citadel  myself,"  rejoined 
the  Son  of  Porthos  without  hesitation. 

"Whew  !"  and  the  old  marshal  joined  in  the  laugh  of  the 
aid-de-eamps  and  the  officers  :  "go  ahead  then,  my  boy,  and 
do  not  wait  for  me  :  If  you  have  an  idea,  you  may  have  the 
means  to  put  it  into  execution.  I  authorize  you  at  need  to 
make  a  suolime  madman  of  yourself." 

"You  are  looking  quite  radiant,"  said  Friquet  when  his 
new  officer  returned  from  the  visit  to  the  commander-in« 
chief. 

"Yes,  I  shall  soon  be  going  to  win  my  wife  !"  replied  tin 
Son  of  Porthos  with  gladness  and  fervent  belief. 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  a6l 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
JOEL'S  IDEA. 

HERR  SCHUTZ,  the  governor  of  Freiburg,  ate  and  drank 
heartily  but  he  slept  with  one  eye  open.  He  was  sheltered 
behind  thick  walls  ;  he  had  food  in  abundance  ;  more  guns 
than  were  set  against  him  and  munitions  to  spare.  The 
townspeople  were  devoted  to  the  Emperor  ;  Duke  Charles 
had  promised  to  come  to  his  relief,  and  tiie  prince  had  never 
been  known  to  break  his  word.  From  ail  these  reasons  the 
corpulent  colonel  had  been  but  slightly  uneasy  about  the 
investment  of  the  place.  But  he  kept  up  a  good  guard,  and 
he  ceased  not  to  pound  away  at  the  entrenchments  advanc- 
ing towards  him.  He  was  going  to  begin  a  meal  when  an 
orderly  announced  the  arrival  of  an  extraordinary  messenger 
from  the  Duke  of  Lorraine.  This  news  made  him  swallow 
some  of  a  glass  of  Moselle  the  wrong  way. 

"  A  messenger  from  Prince  Charles  ?"  he  repeated  ;  "  how 
the  devil  could  he  get  to  us  ?  I  cannot  imagine  that  the  en- 
emy would  let  him  penetrate  their  lines  at  his  ease.  Un- 
less he  fell  out  of  the  skies  or  came  riding  astraddle  of  a 
comet " 

"  Colonel,"  said  an  officer,  "we  spied  him  running  towards 
us,  pursued  by  the  shots  of  the  French  and  our  pickets  treat- 
ed him  to  pepper  out  of  similar  castors — but  he  stood  the 
double  fire  finely,  and  jumped  into  our  moat,  shouting  : 
'Freund !'  so  that  I  cast  him  a  rope  and  he  hauled  himself  up 
on  the  rampart.  He  is  now  in  the  guardhouse  drying  him- 
self as  you  may  expect  after  a  bath  of  that  kind." 

"  What  is  he  ?" 

"  Not  a  Frenchman — more  like  a  Saxon — a  giant  of  a  fel- 
low who  would  cut  up  into  half-a-dozen  frog-eaters.  It  is  my 
opinion  that  they  could  have  caught  him  if  they  had  tried, 
but  none  of  them  had  the  bravery  to  get  near  enough  to  In'm." 

"  Let  him  be  brought  before  me  at  once.  I  will  inter- 
rogate him  while  taking  a  bite  :  and  if  anything  double-faced 
appears  nn  his  tale — "  He  snapped  off  the  end  of  a  sausage 
between  his  stumpy  teeth  with  ferocity  of  ill  omen. 

Ten  minutes  afterwards,  the  personage  announced  was  e* 


262  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

corted  into  his  presence  between  four  imperial  fusileers,  tall 
fellows  whom,  however,  he  towered  above  by  half  a  head. 
He  had  black  moustaches  streaked  with  grey,  strongly  out- 
lined creases  on  the  face  as  from  age  and  a  hard  life  in  mill, 
tary  harness,  but  an  eye  of  inextinguishable  youth.  In  this 
feature  alone  would  Aurore  herself  have  recognized  her  lover, 
whose  disguise  was  the  work  of  art  of  the  hairdresser  of  the 
young  Duke  de  Villars,  who  had  associated  himself  with 
our  hero  in  this  enterprise.  Needless  to  say  that  the  cane  of 
Walton,  picked  up  by  the  patrol  and  brought  to  Joel,  had  re- 
minded him  of  his  idea  and  furnished  a  means  to  commence 
it  auspiciously.  . 

"Are  you  German?"  brusquely  demanded  Colonel  Schutz. 

"No,  colonel,  I  am  a  Lorrainer,  from  Oppenau." 

"You  say  you  are  charged  with  an  errand  by  Prince 
Charles  ?" 

And  with  the  assistance  of  a  soldier  who  used  his  bayonet 
as  a  knife,  he  extracted  from  a  seam  of  his  cothes  a  paper 
which  was  nothing  else  than  the  note  confided  to  Walton  by 
Duke  Charles  in  the  garden  of  Kaspar's  inn.  The  governor 
read  it  over  twice  and  carefully  examined  it. 

"Well,  it  is  right  enough  ;  it  is  my  lord's  memorandum- 
paper,  branded  with  his  cipher." 

There  was  no  doubting  the  note,  but  he  had  still  a  rem- 
nant of  distrust  as  he  inquired  :  "How  did  you  manage  to 
cut  through  the  enemy's  lines?" 

"I  went  into  the  marshal's  camp  under  pretence  of  selling 
cherry  brandv  of  my  own  make,  out  of  a  cask  I  had  in  a 
cart.  At  a  chance  that  was  given  me  I  slipped  into  the 
trench.  Unfortunately,"  with  a  rough  laugh,  "my  bulk  be- 
trayed me  among  those  midgets  of  French  in  the  ditches  and 
the  hue-and-cry  was  raised.  I  jumped  out  and  ran  for  your 
works.  The  rest  happened  under  the  eyes  of  your  men  and 
they  can  tell  you  all  about  it.  I  am  glad  that  they  do  not 
shoot  as  straight  at  your  friends  as  they  should  at  the  enemy 
to  repulse  them." 

Schutz  drew  a  wry  face. 

"What  are  you  bringing  me — news  ?" 

"Instructions  from  my  lord,  private,  precise  and  confi* 
dential." 

"Verbal,  do  you  mean  ?" 

Mi  should  say  so  !  what  I  carried  in  my  vest  was  enough 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  263 

to  have  me  hanged — but  the  duke  would  not  let  his  liege 
carry,  save  in  his  head,  the  plan  by  the  means  of  which  Frei- 
burg is  to  be  delivered  in  three  days." 

He  pointed  to  the  soldiers,  whom  Schutz  dismissed  with 
a  jerk  of  the  thumb. 

*'  Now,  unfold  yourself,  man,"  he  said  when  they  were 
alone.  "I  will  listen  while  I  eat — my  breakfast  is  my  heartiest 
repast." 

Word  for  word  the  mock  Lorrainer  repeated  what  he  had 
heard  Walton  and  the  general  arrange  in  the  inn  garden. 
The  colonel  approved  as  he  laid  it  open. 

"  That  was  good  !"  he  said,  clacking  his  tongue.  "  A 
rocket  as  the  signal — that  was  better  !  the  double  attack  at 
one  time — the  prince  and  his  troops  on  the  one  hand,  and  I, 
with  the  garrison  and  the  people  on  the  other.  Ah,  Cre*quy 
and  his  men  will  not  be  able  to  stand  that,  ha,  ha!"  He 
crushed  the  wing  of  a  fowl  between  his  ponderous  jaws, 
coming  together  like  a  portcullis.  "By  the  way,  comrade," 
he  added,  eyeing  the  jolly  old  Lorrainer  who  was  still 
echoing  his  laugh,  "do  you  chance  to  guess  what  was  in  that 
note  about  you  ?" 

"Ay,"  said  Joel  tranquilly,  with  the  grim  merriment  of  a 
peasant,  "  my  lord  advised  you  to  make  a  bullet-pouch  of 
my  head  or  halter  me  with  a  new  rope  if  any  thing  in  my 
behavior  struck  your  excellency  as  suspicious."  And  he 
\aughed  again,  as  though  this  doubt  of  him  were  the  cream 
if  good-jests. 

"  Oh,  you  knew  it,  did  you  ?"  and  he  snapped  his  piggish 
;yes  on  each  side  of  his  high-colored  and  fleshly  ncse. 

"His  highness  kindly  read  the  lines  out  to  me  vith  stress 
on  those  concerning  yours  faithfully." 

"Then  remember,  landsman"  said  the  colonel, thumping 
the  board  with  his  glass,  "  that  Colonel  Schutz  has  never 
broken  his  word.  And  may  the  thunder-weather  crush  me 
if  I  do  not  carry  out  the  duke's  orders,  though  I  have  to 
blow  your  brains  out  with  my  own  hand  or  wind  the  noose 
round  your  neck." 

"Pshaw!"  returned  Joel  with  the  same  serenitv,  "there  is 
a  plain  wav  of  making  sure  that  I  walk  straight  in  doing  my 
duty  to  my  prince  and  my  country — keep  me  by  you  so  that 
you  can  read  my  very  thoughts " 

The  colonel  caught  the  ball  on  the  bound,  so  to  say. 


264  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR. 

*Dcr  Tcufel!  the  very  tiling  I  had  decided  upon.  From 
this  moment  forward,  my  watch  over  you  will  not  be  taken  oft 
you,  and  you  are  to  be  rivetted  to  me  as  the  shadow  to  the 
body." 

The  pretended  envoy  of  Prince  Charles  gravely  said:  "  I 
am  glad  to  become,  if  only  for  a  while,  the  shadow  of  the 
eminent  warrior,  Colonel  Schutz,  whose  prudence,  valor 
and  military  science  are  a  house-hold  word  among  the  sold- 
iers of  Europe." 

This  blunt  flattery  operated  a  fresh  change  in  the  colonel. 
His  face  showed  amiability  in  the  highest  power. 

"1  like  you,"  he  said  with  gruff  good  humor.  "In  fact,  we 
are  old  war-dogs  together — about  the  same  age,  I  judge. 
What  grade  did  you  hold  in  the  army?" 

"1  have  long  retired  to  cultivate  the  patch  of  pine  woods 
I  wrested  from  the  forest — but  I  was  a  sergeant  in  the  Vau- 
demont  regiment  when  we  fought  at  Rocroy  for  the  right 
rause.  Only,"  with  another  broad  guffaw,  "the  right  cause 
was  well  thumped  that  day.  Herr  Gott!  how  our  allies  the 
Spaniards  were  threshed — by  that  mere  greenhorn  the  Duke 
of  Enghien!" 

Colonel  Schutz  joined  in  the  laugh, 

"What  did  you  say  your  name  was?v 

"Niklas  Hummer,  at  your  orders." 

"Then,  Major  Hummer,"  said  Schut«,  holding  out  his 
hand,  "Not  only  shall  you  accompany  me  when  I  go  forth  on 
the  requirements  of  duty,  but  you  shall  share  my  board,  and 
sleep  in  the  inner  room  of  my  own  bedchamber.  I  will  see 
that  you  fare  well.  Can  you  eat  well — can  you  drink?" 

"Try  me  !"  responded  Joel,  who  never  felt  any  where  more 
at  home  than  when  this  proposition  was  put,  and  opening  his 
mouth  to  show  a  set  of  teeth,  which,  spite  of  his  assumed 
age,  seemed  fit  to  devour  a  wiii  boar  at  three  sittings. 

The  governor  soon  seemed  enchanted  with  his  guest,  who 
not  only  was  his  shadow,  as  has  been  well  said,  in  his  round 
on  the  rampart,  and  in  the  inspection  of  the  barracks  and 
the  works,  to  say  nothing  of  the  n  \nes,  including  the  famous 
one  which  was  to  overwhelem  the  French  if  they  made  a 
grand  assault,  but  at  his  copious  I  anquets. 

All  Freiburz  feasted  likewise.  The  people  had  wind  of 
the  approaching  deliverance,  though  there  was  no  suspicious 
babbling  of  the  plan  from  the  pretended  envoy.  The/ 


THE  DEATH  OF  AR AMIS.  265 

made  preparations  to  receive  the  prince  when  the  French 
should  nave  been  driven  away. 

Tue  governor's  suit  of  rooms  was  on  the  ground  floor  an 
old  guardroom  converted  for  his  pleasure:  in  spite  of  the  low, 
vaulted  ceiling,  short  columns  supporting  it,  and  the  dark 
walls  covered  with  armor  and  trophies,  it  was  gay  when  the 
two  carousing  companions,  as  Joel  and  the  colonel  had  be- 
come, entered  on  the  second  dozen  bottles  of  the  pure  juice 
of  the  grape. 

Nine  o'clock  was  ringing  from  the  cathedral  tower  when 
an  officer  intruded  on  them  to  get  the  word  and  countersign. 
Herr  Schutz  raised  his  enflarned,  puffed  and  mottled  face  and 
made  a  beckoning  sign  for  the  officer  to  stoop  to  have  the 
word  whispered  to  him.  But  he  forgot  to  alter  his  voice  to 
the  proper  key  and  almost  roared  in  his  subordinates's  ear: 
*Vater  and  Land — Voter-land, — did  you  catch  them  ?" 

"Very  well,  governor,"  said  the  officer,  departing. 

Another  officer  succeeded  him  who  brought  a  bunch  of 
Jceys  to  his  superior,  as  was  the  usage,  every  evening  after  the 
tattoo  was  beat.  Not  the  keys  of  the  town  gates,  which  were 
locked,  bolted  and  barred,  with  the  portcullis  lowered  and 
the  drawbridge  hauled  up  since  the  beginning  of  the  siege  ; 
but  of  the  citadel,  communicating  with  the  town,  as  well  as 
a  grated  door,  preventing  access  to  the  stairs  leading  up  to 
the  castle  roof.  On  receiving  them  and  stuffing  them  into 
his  pocket,  Schutz  asked  if  he  had  any  news. 

"  Nothing  to  see,  colonel :  the  night  is  as  black  as  the 
muzzle  of  an  uncleaned  gun  and  the  rain  is  beginning  to 
fail." 

"  So  much  the  easier  for  the  watchers,"  said  the  head  offi- 
cer with  a  guttural  laugh:  "those  jackshapes  of  Cre'quy's  will 
not  venture  forth  for  fear  of  taking  the  curl  out  of  their 
feathers  and  the  starch  out  of  their  lace.  Go  and  get  to  bed," 
he  added  to  the  two  soldiers  who  had  brought  in  the  meal,  as 
soon  as  the  officers  had  retired.  "We  do  not  want  you  to  pull 
the  caps  off  these  ladies — "alluding  to  the  sealed  bottles. 
"When  I  drink,  I  do  not  like  folks  looking  over  my  shoul- 
der to  count  how  many  glasses  I  took." 

The  soldiers  obeyed. 

"  Now  it  goes  between  ourselves,  dear  Major  Hummer  ! 
Much  as  I  hate  the  men  of  France,  so  much  I  love  their 
wines.  There  they  stand — off  with  their  heads,  jolly  fellow  I 


366  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR, 

down   with   the   wines  of  France  !"    Seizing   a  bottle  he 
wrenched  out  the  cork  and  began  to  fill  the  two  glasses. 

"  Let  us  drink,"  said  Joel,  knocking  off  two  necks  of 
bottles,  one  ueld  in  each  hand,  against  another  with  the  dex- 
terity of  a  juggler. 

So  commenced  the  bout;  to  the  mild  wines  succeeded  the 
heavy  ones:  and  the  liquors  followed.  They  sang  while 
they  drank,  and  to  Schutz's  muffled  ears,  the  Breton  ballad 
was  good  enough  Lorraine  dialect  to  ex<;iie  no  comment. 
Soon,  though,  the  musical  notes  were  merged  into  snores.  Both 
guests  seemed  to  sleep,  but  at  the  end  of  twenty  minutes  as  the 
church  bell  sounded  eleven  o'clock,  one  of  the  drowsy  ones 
made  a  move.  It  was  "Major  Niklas  Humm,;r,"  who  lifted 
his  head  warily  and  let  his  eyes  wander  to  find  Colonel 
Schutz.  The  host  was  leaning  back  in  his  armchair,  letting 
sound  rumble  through  his  immeasurably  opened  mouth  whicii 
defied  the  trombone  to  imitate.  He  was  deeply  wrapped 
in  a  heavy  sleep.  The  Frenchman  scanned  him,  witnout 
any  tokens  of  drunkenness  on  his  part. 

'  To  think  of  his  expecting  to  drink  me  under  the  table! 
and  with  wines  of  my  own  country,  too  !  Intoxicate  one 
whose  head  lias  mocked  at  home  cider  and  the  wine  of  Bon- 
larron  !"  listening  to  the  churchbells  striking  after  that  of 
the  cathedral  which  had  given  the  cue,  he  sad  :  "I  have 
just  an  hour  before  me.  More  than  I  want." 

Schutz  snored  more  loudly  than  ever  and  with  his  bared 
throat,  a  sanguinary  enemy  might  have  been  tempted  to  spoil 
his  gullet  for  wine  bibbing  :  but  Joel  shook  his  head. 

"All  I  want  is  his  bunch  of  keys,"  he  said  :  "and  they 
are  there."  The  keys  puffed  out  the  governor's  pocket  and 
were  not  easily  extracted,  but  Joel  accomplished  it,  as  he  was 
not  pressed  for  time.  He  also  borrowed  the  governor's  hat 
with  a  black  and  a  yellow  feather  and  his  gold-laced  mantle, 
from  the  chair  where  they  had  been  flung,  and  arrayed  him- 
self in  them.  He  took  down  a  sword  from  the  wall  pegs, 
and  left  the  room. 

The  vestiblule  led  him  into  a  gallery,  where  he  was  stopped 
by  a  grating  across  tiie  way  to  a  spiral  staircase. 

One  of  the  abstracted  keys  opened  the  lock  of  this  grating, 
and  our  hero  entered  on  the  stairs.  The  chief  defence  of 
the  Schloss  was  the  principal  tower  roof,  over  two  hundred 
feet  above  the  moat ;  it  communicated  with  the  town  by  » 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  &j 

rery  narrow  way.  While  all  the  troops  were  placed  at  points 
along  the  circumvallation,  one  battalion  of  the  imperial  regi- 
ment guarded  the  tower.  It  was  not  supposable  that  the  en- 
emy would  attack  a  part  reputed  impregnable,  and  *o  reach 
which  the  whole  of  the  fire  from  elsewhere  would  have  to  be 
endured.  Still  there  stood  on  the  tower  top,  six  heavy  pivot 
guns  which  could  be  turned  against  the  town,  once  the  castle 
were  captured.  In  a  stone  watchbox  on  the  roof  was  a  sen- 
tinel who  could  survey  the  country  roundabout.  Here  also 
Schutz  had  posted  a  squad  of  twenty  men,  under  an  ensign 
who  was  charged  to  watch  the  French. 

Where  the  stairs  came  out  on  the  platform  a  sentry  was 
walking  up  and  down. 

"  Wer  da?  who  is  there  ?"  be  challenged,  as  he  heard  steps 
coming  up,  stopping  and  lowering  niv  bayonet 

Joel  had  not  neglected  his  recent  opportunity  ip  ac- 
companying Herr  Schutz  on  service,  to  acquire  at  least  many 
phrases  of  military  German. 

"Officer  going  his  round,"  replied  he,  in  a  deep  voice  wor- 
thy of  his  stature. 

The  slouch  hat  concealed  his  face  in  the  mist,  and  the 
jiloak  mantled  his  shape.  He  stooped  a  little  as  he  went  up  to 
the  man  and  said  : 

"Vater  !"  to  which  the  soldier  replied  "  Land:"  as  he 
raised  his  musket  to  the  present. 

"Soldier,"  said   Joel  abruptly,  "who  posted  you  here  ?" 

The  anspessade  officer." 

"Anspessade — idiot!  lumpen  hund!  sentinel — mid  staircase! 
go,  finish  rest  of  service  there!"  The  broken  sentences  might 
pass  for  those  of  a  man  who  had  sat  too  long  over  the  wine 
and  beer.  Without  rejoinder,  the  soldier  let  the  pretended) 
officer  go  by  while  he  descended  the  stairs. 

The  rain  began  to  fall  in  torrents  and  it  was  cold  at  this' 
height:  the  wind  roared  as  a  gale.  In  the  wooden  shelter 
serving  as  guardhouse,  the  officer  and  his  score  of  men 
were  sleeping  on  the  plank  bed.  In  his  watchbox  the  special 
lookout  was  dozing,  but  on  hearing  the  new-comer,  he 
peered  out.  Thinking  he  knew  the  person  by  the  hat  and 
cloak,  he  let  the  false  Schutz  come  up. 

"Vater " 

As  the  German  was  about  to  return  the  password,  Joel's 
resistless  hands  fell  upon  hir  tn«-oat  and  hisvvaistbelt:  he  lugged 


268  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OK, 

the  wretch  bodily  out  of  the  box  and  hurled  him  over  the 
battlements.  His  strangled  shriek  was  indistinguishable 
among  the  many  curious  noises  made  by  the  wind  around  the 
stone  parapets. 

4 'One  less  to  deal  with,"  muttered  he,  "I  hope,  though,  that 
Jie  has  not  fell  on  any  of  our  boys!" 

He  alluded  to  his  friends  whom  he  had  arranged  to  meet 
him  on  the  main  tower  at  midnight. 

"I  had  no  choice  in  the  matter.  Besides,  it  is  one  way  of 
notifying  them  that  I  am  at  work." 

The  bells  began  to  ring  for  twelve  o'clock. 

He  hid  behind  the  watchbox,  and  through  the  loophole 
in  the  wall  lowered  a  rope,  which  he  had  worn  coiled  around 
him  under  his  clothes  and  which  had  given  him  the  roundness 
of  corporation  which  had  excited  Schutz's  fellow  feeling  for 
a  lover  of  good  cheer. 

Weighted  with  a  loose  stone  tied  to  the  end,  this  rope  slowly 
descended:  but  in  time  Joel  felt  the  weight  removed  ;  then 
a  shake  was  given  and  as  he  drew  upwards,  he  found  that 
another  and  increasing  load  had  been  attached. 

"A  rope-ladder,"  he  thought  tugging  at  the  burden  which 
few  men  could  have  pulled  so  far,  but  he  "walked"  it  along, 
hand  over  hand,  like  a  sailor.  At  length  he  had  the  end 
in  hand,  to  which  a  bar  of  iron  was  bound  crosswise.  This 
bar  he  placed  within  the  battlements  so  that  it  would  not 
slip  and  shook  the  rope.  Bending  over  the  profundity,  he 
soon  descried  a  string  of  shadows  ascending,  and  with  the 
reckless  levity  of  the  old  soldiers,  whose  manners  he  was 
prompt  to  adopt  with  the  imitativeness  of  youth,  he  muttered: 

"Passengers  for  heaven,  this  is  the  way!" 

In  twelve  to  fifteen  minutes  he  had  the  majority  of  the 
thirty  men,  under  Friquet  and  Bonlarron,  around  him. 

"In  the  first  place,"  he  said,  pointing  to  the  guardhouse, 
"Make  sure  of  the  fellows  in  that  shed.  They  sleep,  so  you 
need  not  flash  a  weapon,  but  blind  them  with  their  belts  and 
gag  them  with  their  pompons.  Do  not  fire  a  shot,  whatevei' 
you  do." 

The  little  party,  shod  with  strips  of  blankets  over  their 

boots,  proceeded  to  the  spot.  The  ensign  was  aroused,  butjoel 

caught  him  in  the  left  hand  as  he  recoiled  from  this  columa 

of  silent  phantom's  and  pointing  the  sword  at  his  eyes,  said: 

Not  a  breath  or  you  die!" 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAM  IS.  269 

The  officer  saw  by  the  frown  on  the  face  that  the  wisest 
course  was  to  obey  and  he  remained,  flattened  against  the 
wall  like  an  owl  nailed  to  a  barndoor. 

"Only  a  sentry  on  the  stairs  is  left.  I  will  attend  to  him. 
Reverse  the  guns."  And  Joel  descended  the  tower  steps.  A 
few  minutes  after,  they  saw  him  reappear,  carrying  under  his 
arm  the  soldier  who  had  been  given  no  time  to  snap  the  trig- 
ger at  him. 

Meanwhile,  the  six  privet  guns  were  turned  round  to 
bear  on  the  town,  and  threaten  it  with  a  torrent  of  flame  and 
iron. 

Joel  looked  round  with  a  proud  and  gladdened  eye. 

Up  with  our  flag — said  he. 

There  was  nothing  more  for  them  to  do  but  conduct  the 
water  from  the  tank  where  it  was  stored  against  fire,  to  the 
receptacle  for  the  great  mine,  which  was  inundated  during 
the  hours  before  dawn. 

Immense  was  the  joyous  surprise  in  the  French  camp,  and 
equal  that  of  another  kind,  of  the  town,  in  the  morning, 
when  the  white  standard  with  the  gold  lily-flowers,  was  seen 
waving  in  ttie  sun  over  the  main  tower  of  the  citadel. 

As  the  signal  to  their  friends,  the  French  fired  one  of  the 
guns  trained  upon  the  town  and  the  ball  decapitated  one  of 
the  statues  in  front  of  the  cathedral  :  the  town  was  at  the 
mercy  of  the  party  who  held  the  tower  top  : 

''The  French — the  French  advance  !  "  was  the  cry,  as  they 
saw  the  army  of  the  marshal  leaving  his  lines  in  three  col- 
umns. But  before  they  came  under  fire,  a  sphere  of  iron, 
with  side  pieces  which  gave  it  a  peculiar  rotary  movement 
and  an  awful  sound,  rose  from  the  French  battery  of  Cap- 
tain Friquet,  and  described  a  trajectory  which  landed  it  on 
the  City  Hall  square,  where  it  crushed  several  in  the  vast 
crowd  assembled  in  agitation.  It  was  the  precursor  of  the 
Little  Parisian's  infernal  work,  for  three  more  bombs  spread 
destruction  and  carnage. 

Under  these  shooting  stars,  the  enemy  continued  to  ad- 
vance. There  was  no  hope  of  entrapping  them  at  the  under- 
mined wall  as  it  was  discovered  that  the  powder  was  swamped. 
On  the  other  hand,  a  fourth  shell  exploded  in  the  magazine 
and  the  only  thought  «»f  everybody  was  to  escape  this  fire 
raining  from  heaven. 

At  the  height  of  a  panic,  Ci  cquy  sent  the  order  to  cease  the 


270  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

bombardment,  which  Friquet  had  witnessed  from  the  height. 
At  nine  o'clock,  the  French  general  made  his  entrance  good 
into  the  place. 

He  threw  his  arms  about  the  neck  of  the  Son  of  Porthos  as 
the  latter  presented  him  with  the  keys. 

"It  is  to  you,  my  lad,  that  we  owe  the  opening  of  the  plac« 
to  the  King's  arms." 

He  called  Friquet  to  him  and  complimented  him  and  Bon- 
larron. 

Here  they  brought  him  the  flags  taken  from  the  enemy  : 
that  of  the  imperial  regiment,  the  Kornach  and  the  town 
guards. 

"Chevalier  de  Locmaria,"  resumed  he,  "I  charge  you  to 
convey  these  trophies  to  St.  Germain,  to  be  placed  at  the 
King's  feet.  I  shall  acquaint  his  Majesty  with  the  large 
share  you  had  in  the  capture,  in  my  report.  Captain  Friq- 
uet and  Sergeant  Bonaventure  will  accompany  you  ;  having 
shared  the  peril,  it  is  right  they  should  share  the  glory.  Take 
the  keys  and  the  flags,  gentlemen.  I  have  no  need  to  say 
that  I  am  proud  to  command  lads  of  mettle  like  yourselves 
and  I  am  your  friend  whenever  you  want  one." 

That  same  evening,  the  three  friends  set  out.  All  three 
had  active  bodies,  free  minds  and  contented  hearts.  They 
passed  joyfully  over  the  returning  way.  Everywhere  the 
news  ran  before  them  so  that  they  were  proclaimed  as  the 
heroes  of  Freiburg.  Thus  they  were  hailed  at  St.  Dizier, 
where  they  put  up  at  the  Cross  of  Lorraine  Inn,  when  a  man 
ran  out  of  the  mob  towards  JoeL 

"The  chevalier  !" 

"Honorin  !"  exclaimed  the  knight  at  seeing  the  old  serv- 
ingfc-man  of  the  Widow  Scarron. 

"  I  was  coming  after  you,  with  this  message  from  my  mis- 
tress." 

Our  hero  took  the  paper  and  read  these  two  lines  : 

"  Come  home  without  losing  a  minute.  Aurore's  life  and 
honor  are  in  danger.  YOUR  FRIEND." 

"  Halloa,  my  horse  !"  he  shouted.  "  Join  me  later — I  must 
make  straight  for  Paris,  though  I  had  to  walk  there — nay, 
drag  myself  on  my  kn^es  You  may  join  me  there — if  I  be 
still  alire." 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  «/l 

"  But  the  flags  ?"  suggested  Bonlarron. 

"And  the  King  ?"  added  the  Parisian. 

"  'Sblood  !"  ejaculated  the  Son  of  Porthos,  with  a  snap  of 
the  fingers  in  mighty  disdain,  "  it  matters  little  about  king* 
and  flags.  My  wife  is  in  question.  My  wife,  do  you  hear, 
whom  they  want  to  rob  me  of  or  kill  !" 

He  leaped  into  the  saddle,  and,  getting  ready  to  drive  in 
the  spurs,  he  shouted  : 

"  Farewell  !  if  you  love  me,  say  a  prayer  for  me— for  I 
know  not  what  kind  of  devil  I  have  to  fight  1" 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

THE  SALARY  OF  SILENCE. 

THE  hunting  horns  sounded  the  start  in  the  courtyards  of 
St.  Germain  Palace,  and  on  the  place  in  front  and  the  streets 
where  the  royal  hunting  party  were  to  pass,  there  was  a 
noisy  affluence  of  people,  insatiable  to  gaze  at  so  many  car- 
riages, horses,  plumes  and  golden  decorations. 

The  brilliant  cavalcade  paraded  the  town  and  left  it  by  the 
slope  which  leads  to  the  deeper  parts  of  the  Forest.  There 
were  non-equivocal  tokens  of  storm,  but  all  the  orders  were 
given  out,  and  the  King  would  not  pospone  an  engagement 
which  concerted  with  a  secret  arrangement  with  the  Duke 
of  Almada.  But  the  order  was  given  to  make  haste  and  the 
tfhole  cavalcade  dashed  off  at  the  gallop. 

When  all  had  disappeared  in  whirls  of  dust,  the  multitude 
dispersed,  and  the  good  town  subsided  into  its  usual  state 
when  its  mighty  lords  and  ladies  were  absent — as  silent,  dull 
and  deserted  as  at  the  present  day. 

Towards  dusk,  as  the  clouds  immensely  enlarged  and  their 
line  of  battle,  outlined  on  the  slatey  sky,  borrowed  some  pur- 
£,"  tints  from  the  setting  sun,  which  made  the  hue  more  !«• 
gu  jrious — the  shoes  of  a  horse  ridden  at  the  *op  of  speed, 
sirote  fire  out  of  the  courtyard  paving-stones.  It  was  the 
SOA  of  Porthos,  with  dusty  clothes,  flaming  countenance,  hair 
dropping  perspiration,  and  bloody  spurs,  who  was  stopped 
by  the  sentry  at  the  gates,  lowering  his  partisan  to  bar  hif 
way. 


aja  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

"Courier  from  Marshal  Cre"quy, "  said  the  Breton  from  the 
height  of  his  saddle  and  his  own  superior  stature,  as  he 
waved  the  Swiss  guardsman  aside  with  an  imperious  gest- 
ure. 

The  officer  at  the  gates  ran  up. 

"Do  you  come  from  Freiburg,  sir?"  he  queried  eagerly." 

"Yes,  sir,  and  all  haste,  as  you  may  perceive.'" 

"But  his  Majesty  has  gone  hunting  at  Marly,  and  will  prob- 
ably spend  the  night  there  as  usual." 

"How  is  Mdme.  de  Locmaria  ?"  demanded  Joel  after  a 
frown  in  disappointment.  "My  wife,  that  is — one  of  the 
Queen's  ladies.  There  has  been  no  mishap  to  her,  I  trust?" 

*'I  have  not  the  honor  to  know  Mdme.  de  Locmaria  per- 
sonally ;  but  I  have  not  heard  of  any  accident  to  any  lady  of 
the  household.  The  Queen  has  gone  with  the  hunt,  and 
takes  all  her  attendants  with  her." 

"The  road  to  Marly  ?"  said  Joel  curtly,  and  on  its  being 
pointed  out,  he  darted  off  in  the  direction  followed  by  the 
King  and  the  court  in  the  morning.  Our  enfavored  rider 
recked  little  of  the  dust,  the  wind  and  the  storm  overhead  :  all 
he  thought  of  was  Aurore,  who  might  at  that  very  instant  be 
in  need  of  his  arm  and  his  sword.  He  hurried  his  course  :  hia 
saddle  burned  him,,  his  steed,  with  sides  furrowed  by  the 
rowels,  neighed  with  pain  as  it  whitened  its  bit  with  foam. 
He  thus  went  two  leagues  in  fifteen  minutes. 

Distant  flourishes  of  the  hunting-horns  guided  him. 

Suddenly  a  black  curtain,  drawn  across  his  path,  was 
ripped  by  a  blade  of  steel-like  color — it  was  the  lightning — 
signalling  the  downpour  of  a  torrent.  He  was  in  the  woods, 
but  the  old  trees  seemed  a  frail  defence  to  the  shower.  The 
horse  Was  almost  broken  down  by  this  new  disaster,  bul  the 
rider  was  invulnerable.  He  had  taken  one  of  the  bridlepaths 
which  seemed  to  lead  to  the  centre  where  the  horns  now 
sounding  the  rally.  The  storm  had  spoilt  the  sport.  This  alley 
ledto  a  clearing  where  ancient  oaks  surrounded  a  natural  cir- 
cus. At  the  instant  when  Joel's  foundered  horse  stopped, 
dead  beat,  at  this  space,  a  singular  party  crossed  it.  Two  of 
three  men  carried  a  burden  which  seemed  to  be  a  dead  body; 
the  third  guided  them  :  he  bore  a  resemblance  to  M.  de 
Boislaurier.  By  a  flash  of  lightning,  this  confused  mass  be- 
came defined  and  the  cavalier  recognized  that  the  apparent 
corps*  was  a  woman's.  Fainted  or  dead— what  was  more  te 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  A  RA  MIS.  275 

the  purpose,  and  drew  from  him  an  outcry  which  was  an  ap- 
peal, a  sob  and  a  roar  of  wrath — it  was  his  wife  ! 

But  all  sank  back  into  gloom.  Standing  up  in  the  stirrups, 
Joel  stretched  his  arms  towards  the  vanished  vision.  Un- 
fortunately, in  this  movement  of  despair  and  entreaty,  his 
hand  let  go  the  reins.  At  that,  another  flash  of  lightning 
zigzagged  the  foliage  and  the  thunderbolt  fell  on  a  tree  which 
it  split,  with  such  a  detonation  that  the  echoes  seemed  afraid 
for  a  space  to  repeat  the  roar.  The  frightened  horse  reared 
violently,  and  the  unsaddled  rider  was  thrown  so  that  his 
head  struck  the  foot  of  a  birch  tree  where  he  remained 
stunned. 

For  nearly  an  hour  he  was  left  unconscious  until  the  cold 
and  the  wet  restored  him.  The  storm  was  as  short  as  it  had 
been  tremendous.  He  rose  painfully  to  his  feet.  His  intel- 
ligence triumphed,  not  without  an  effort,  over  his  bewilder- 
ment, and  one  memory  surged  up  above  the  whirl  in  his 
brain — that  of  the  strangers  carrying  off  his  wife.  He  wished 
to  spring  off  in  chase  of  the  wretches,  catch  them,  tear  their 
prey  from  them,  if  yet  she  lived,  and  kill  them  to  a  man,  ex- 
acting blood  for  blood  ! 

Yes  :  but  to  what  side  had  they  turned — where  was  he  to 
begin  the  hunt  ?  Time  had  gone  on  and  they  had  a  start. 
The  Breton  was  utterly  unacquainted  with  the  woods. 
His  horse  had  disappeared.  He  went  on  at  random,  stag- 
gering as  if  intoxicated  :  his  limbs  were  benumbed  and  he 
did  not  feel  his  heart  beat. 

Suddenly,  at  the  end  of  a  windfall  row,  he  spied  a  light. 

He  instantly  directed  his  steps  to  this  beacon;  it  was  buin- 
ing  in  old  ruins,  thatched,  dilapidated,  with  a  door  hanging 
by  one  hinge,  and  with  a  small  window  like  a  loophole.  He 
approached  the  latter,  and  looked  in,  before  knocking  at  the 
door,  from  some  unaccountable  reason.  It  was  easy  to  see 
the  inside,  as  there  was  no  blind  or  curtain,  and  the  wind 
freely  circulated  from  the  absence  of  a  pane  of  glass.  A 
kind  of  murmur  came  through  it,  such  as  is  made  by  a  priest 
reciting  prayers. 

Despite  the  anxiety  mastering  him,  Joel  was  deeply  at- 
tracted by  this  singularity.  He  stood  on  the  grass  to  deaden 
the  sound  of  his  spurred  heels,  glided  up  to  the  wall,  and 
stretching  his  neck,  peered  into  t^e  gap  with  uneasy  curiosity. 

In  the  room  with  naked  walls*  was  a  table  covered  with  a 


374  THE  SON  OF  POXTffOSf  ORt 

black  <»loth  which  after  a  fashion  resembled  an  altar.  At 
each  corner  burnt  a  wax  candle.  On  the  cloth,  holy  books 
were  placed  exactly  the  reverse  and  contrary  to  their  proper 
positions.  To  complete  this  burlesque  sacrifice,  a  cross  was 
placed  foot  upwards,  with  a  long  knife  and  a  brass  basin. 

Before  this  mock  altar  stood  a  woman,  dressed  as  a  priest, 
whom  Joel  recognized  as  the  hag  he  had  met  in  Paris,  asso- 
ciated with  Walton  in  barring  his  way  to  reach  Therese 
Lesage.  Her  chasuble  was  worn  inside  out,  and  she  was 
reciting  prayers  backwards.  Two  kneeling  women  were 
making  responses  in  a  whining  way.  Still  another,  wear- 
ing a  Spanish  mantilla,  stood  in  an  expectant  attitude. 

The  veiled  woman  was  the  Marchioness  de  Montespan 
the  two  kneeling  ones,  her  maids. 

At  the  period  of  the  consecration,  La  Bosse  took  tht 
brazen  bowl  to  raise  it  above  her  head  as  the  priest  does 
the  chalice,  but  in  turning  it  upside  down,  she  shook  out 
an  enormous  toad. 

The  marchioness  stepped  forward,  threw  aside  her  veil, 
and  appeared  like  Medea,  with  a  deep  and  feverish  eye,  the 
tresses  of  her  purple  hair  winding  among  the  crown  of  ver- 
vain, ivy  sprays  from  graves  and  the  violets  of  death.  The 
toad  was  hopping  upon  the  altar  as  she  caught  up  the  knife 
and  with  one  sharp  stroke  beheaded  the  unclean  animal. 
The  viscid  blood  daubed  her  patrician  hands. 

"By  this  sacrifice,"  said  she  in  a  strong,grave  voice, "I  ask 
lor  the  love  of  the  King  to  return  to  me  and  to  remain  ever 
mine;  for  my  obtaining  from  him  all  I  want  for  myself  and 
my  kin;  for  my  friends  and  servants  to  be  cherished  by  him; 
myself  respected  by  the  lords,  whom  I  may  call  into  the 
councils  of  his  Majesty,  and  who  are  to  let  me  know  what 
happens  there:  in  short,  that  his  love  shall  grow  above  what 
it  was  in  the  past.  Let  Louis  cast  off  this  exercrable  Aurora 
as  he  did  Louise  de  Vallidre,  and  let  me  marry  Louis  when 
he  repudiates  his  Queen  or  she  dies!" 

"Madame,"  said  La  Bosse,  "it  is  time  to  proceed  to  the 
evocation." 

The  lady  turned  her  back  to  the  altar.  Her  hair  twisted 
as  though  serpents  were  writhing  in  it  and  gave  her 
forehead  the  aspect  of  the  Omenides.  With  quivering  lips, 
and  panting  bosom,  she  called  out  three  times: 

"Satan!  Satan!  Sa " 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  275 

But  the  last  syllable  of  the  Cursed  Angel's  name  was  lost 
in  a  terrible  shriek  from  herself  and  her  trio  of  accomplices. 
The  door  was  dashed  in  with  violence,  as  a  tall  figure  whose 
proportions  were  exaggerated  by  the  dubious  moonbeams, 
stood,  silent  but  threatening  on  the  threshold.  The  officia- 
tress  and  the  maid  servants  flung  themselves  down  with  their 
faces  10  the  ground  while  their  mistress  shrank  up  to  the 
wall. 

Had  the  prince  of  Darkness  responded  to  the  impious  vo- 
cation ? 

The  colossus  entered  ;  with  a  wave  of  the  hand  he  dis- 
missed the  minor  sacriligists,  and  the  wretches  did  not  ask 
for  him  to  repeat  the  stern  :  "  Begone  !"  They  scrambled  to 
their  feet  and  darted  out  into  the  forest  like  three  owls  hur- 
rying to  their  nests. 

The  intruder  walked  up  to  the  marchioness,  and  stopping 
before  her  and  folding  his  arms  on  his  breast,  he  said: 

"  Woman,  what  have  you  done  with  my  wife,  Auiore  de 
Locmaria  ?" 

The  lady  stared  at  him  in  stupor  and  drawing  back  her 
head  to  shun  the  double  jet  of  flame  from  his  eyes,  she  mur- 
mured: 

"  Oh,  is  this  his  spirit  ?  do  the  dead  come  out  of  the  grave  ? 
or  has  Satan  taken  his  shape  to  manifest  himself  ?" 

He  grasped  her  wrist  roughly. 

"  Madame,"  said  he,  "no  falsehood  or  trickery.  I  am 
alive,  indeed.  I  must  be  answered  promptly.  Minutes  are 
worth  hours  in  such  an  emergency.  What  have  you  done  with 
my  wife  ?" 

By  the  grip  the  royal  favorite  felt  that  she  was  not  deal- 
ing with  a  phantom  and  her  courage  came  back,  so  that  she 
tried  to  combat. 

"  I  do  not  know  what  you  are  talking  about,"  she  replied. 

"  You  lie  !"  retorted  Joel.  "  You  uttered  my  name  just 
now  in  your  abominable  practice  of  sorcery.  I  saw  two  men 
in  your  hire,  no  doubt,  not  long  ago,  carrying  her  in  a  swoon 
through  the  forest.  By  all  tnat  is  holy,  you  will  tell  me 
without  delay,  or——" 

"  Would  you  lay  your  hand  on  a  woman  ?"  sneered  Athen* 
ais  in  bravado. 

"Well,  no,  I  will  leave  the  executioner's  to  do  that  !** 

"  The  executioner  V 


#6  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR. 

"  Is  it  not  he  who  will  deal  out  justice  to  the  poisoner  ?** 

"  I  say  to  you  now  that  you  lie  !" 

"Mademoiselle  de  Fontanges  stood  in  the  way  of  your  am« 
bilious  projects,  and  you  slew  Mademoiselle  de  Fontanges ; 
I  hold  the  proof  in  this  locket,  enclosing  your  own  death  war« 
rant,  your  confession — your  order  for  the  poison  of  Pierre 
Lesage." 

At  sight  of  the  trinket,  she  recoiled  as  if  for  a  leap. 

"  Madame,"  he  said  coldly,  reading  the  intention  in  her 
dark  eyes,  "  Let  me  tell  you  that,  in  my  country,  1  once 
strangled  with  these  hands  a  wolf  that  sprang  upon  me.  Now, 
let  us  finish  this.  Tell  me  where  my  wife  is  and  I  will  give  you 
impunity  by  restoring  to  you  this  paper.  If  you  hold  yout 
tongue,!  swear  to  God  that  I  will  with  my  own  hand  place 
this  before  the  King  to-morrow,  after  having  shouted  out 
the  story  so  loudly  and  widely  over  Paris  that  all  the  world, 
nobles  and  people,  will  demand  that  the  special  tribunal  shail 
send  you  into  Lesage's  dungeon  until  they  light  the  fire  agaii 
which  consumed  La  Voisin  to  ashes  !" 

"But,  I  have  not  had  Mdme.  de  Locmaria  abducted.  Gi 
and  ask  the  Spanish  ambassador  for  her,  who  in  this  matter 
is  rather  the  agent  of  our  King— he  projects  to  make  her  the 
mistress  of  the  King." 

"My  patron — the  King — where  is  the  King — where  is  Al- 
mada — where  is  Aurore  ?" 

"All  three  are  probably  in  the  Chateau  of  Marly.  The 
tady  fell  ill  during  the  hunt,  and  the  duke  ordered  her  to  be 
carried  to  a  summerhouse  he  owns  next  the  chateau." 

"Enough  !"  interrupted  Joel.  "I  know  all  that  you  could 
tell  me." 

He  remembered  the  dying  words  of  Esteban,  and  as  be  re- 
called the  details  he  recovered  self-command. 

''The  road  to  this  summerhouse?" 

"The  path  by  those  rocks — in  twenty  minutes——** 

"I  thank  you  I" 

He  tore  from  his  neck  and  flung  down  the  medallion,  say* 
ing:  "There  is  your  salary,  madame." 

He  drew  his  sword  and  he  marched  forth  without  heedinj 
the  marchioness.  He  went  at  a  good  pace,  firm  yet  quick, 
and  as  he  shook  his  locks  as  the  lion  does  his  mane,  he  might 
be  heard  to  say  : 

"We^three  will  fight  this  out— I^thc  King  and  the  duke  !* 


THE  DBA  TH  OF  ARAAflS.  377 

CHAPTER  XXX 

THE   DEATH    OF    ARAMIS. 

THE  King  was  supping  at  Marly,  sitting  at  a  small  table 
higher  than  the  others  for  his  guests.  But  let  us  leave  him 
and  the  courtiers  discussing  the  delicate  storm  which  broke 
up  the  hunting-party,  while  we  enter  those  private  apart- 
ments which  were  prohibited  to  the  frequenters  of  the  pal- 
ace. In  this  sanctuary  the  King  ceased  to  be  anything  more 
than  a  mortal  man. 

Here  we  shall  find  Aurore  again.  At  the  cold  collation 
on  the  turf,  which  had  preceded  the  letting  slip  of  the  buck- 
hounds,  the  Duke  of  Almada  had  stepped  up  to  Mdme.  de- 
Locmaria. 

"  What  ails  you,  dear  child  ?  "  he  asked  with  affectionate 
interest : — "You  appear  to  be  in  pain.  Are  you  not  well  ?" 

"Not  very.  But  do  not  busy  yourself  about  me,  as  it  is 
but  a  passing  indisposition.  " 

"Then  you  must  take  some  stimulant  not  to  mar  the  sport. 
A.  dash  of  malvoisie " 

He  beckoned  to  a  butler. 

"Will  you  not  drink  to  the  good  health  and  speedy  return 
of  our  friend  Joel  ? " 

"With  all  my  heart,  my  lord.  " 

Thus  she  had  accepted  the  drugged  wine  he  offered  her. 
A.  few  hours  afterwards,  the  storm  burst  and  the  frightened 
Queen  ordered  her  ladies  to  return  in  all  haste  to  St  Ger- 
main. 

Aurore  tried  to  keep  up  with  the  riders,  but  a  sudden 
weakness  overcame  her.  She  had  not  strength  to  guide  her 
horse  or  to  step  him.  Her  cry  for  help  died  in  her  throat. 
She  wrestled  with  serious  depression.  She  was  slipping  out 
of  the  saddle  when  Boislaurier  ran  up  from  the  distance 
where  he  was  watching  her,  and,  with  the  help  of  two  valets, 
caught  her  in  his  arms. 

Now  she  reposed  in  a  huge  bed,  with  a  plumed  dome,  heavy 
hlue  velvet  curtains,  with  clasps  and  tassels  of  bullion, 
while  a  gilded  rail  separated  it  from  the  rest  of  the  room.  It 
•ras  lighted  by  a  silver  lamp  on  a  table,  by  which  the  Duke 


278  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS ;  OR. 

of  Almada  sat  At  length  he  rose  and  taking  the  lamp,  went 
up  to  view  her. 

"  A  lovely  statue  in  rose  marble,"  he  muttered.  He  re- 
turned to  his  seat.  "  In  an  hour  the  operation  of  my  narcotic 
will  be  exhausted.  On  my  faith,  the  King  is  slow  to  come. 
Will  he  never  have  done  with  that  supper  ?  It  appears  that 
Joel  is  still  alive  and  has  written  to  his  wife.  It  is  certain  that 
ae  worships  her  and  it  is  no  less  certain  that  my  future  favor- 
ite would  give  him  the  last  drop  in  her  veins.  This  does  not 
displease  me,  for  by  threatening  to  reveal  her  shame  to  her 
ousband " 

He  interrupted  himself  as  though  to  reply  to  the  objection 
of  an  invisible  objector  : 

"  Granted  that  this  is  vile  and  odious  !  Against  the  indig- 
nity of  the  act  and  the  scoundrelism  in  its  execution,  would 
revolt  the  lofty  gentlemaniiness  of  Athos,  the  simple  honesty 
of  Porthos  and  d'Artagnan's  valiant  uprightness.  D'Artag- 
nan  would  swear  with  all  the  oaths  in  his  Gascon  vocabulary 
that  what  I  do  is  of  the  meanest  rascality.  With  the  curl  of  his 
oisd  lincul  lip,  Athos  would  let  the  one  word  fall :  'Fie  !'  The 
good  Porthos  would  say  nothing,  but  his  frank  visage  would 
broaden  with  amaze  to  see  his  comrade  of  the  Bastion  St. 
Gervais  and  the  Locmaria  sea-cave — Aramis  the  Musketeer, 
the  prelate  and  the  conspirator  ;  the  man  who  has  juggled 
with  the  crown  and  sceptre  of  France  and  with  royal  persons 
and  destinies — acting  the  spider — the  panderer " 

Disgust  contracted  his  features,  which  had  remained  hand- 
some and  noble  in  spite  of  age  and  intrigue  ravaging  them. 
He  took  a  crystal  phial  from  his  breast,  hidden  at  the  end  of 
a  gold  chain  amid  the  lace,  and  sipped  a  drop.  His  eye 
was  brighter  and  his  voice  refreshed  as  he  proceeded  : 

"Everything  is  interwoven.  This  woman  must  become 
the  royal  love  so  that,  as  her  master,  I  may  put  into  Louis's 
hand  the  pen  that  will  strike  out  Heresy  on  the  book  of  the 
Rights  of  Man.  Then  with  the  order  of  which  I  am  the 
head  remain  erect  over  its  prostrated  foes,  my  numerous,  in- 
vincible, disciplined  army,  and  when  I  command  from  the 
chair  of  St.  Peter " 

Again  he  was  hoarse,  and  he  had  recourse  to  the  elixir. 

"\Vhy  not  ?  are  not  my  shoulders  strong  enough  to  sup- 
port the  pontifical  purple  ?  would  not  the  tiara  become  my 
silver  hairs,  and  is  there  not  in  me  the  making  of  a  Gregory. 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  379 

a  Leo,  or  a  Julius  ?  The  end  justifies  the  means.  What  docs 
the  mud  in  the  road  or  the  twig  snapped  under  foot 
matter  to  him  who  has  scaled  the  mount  ?  What  value  is 
the  virtue  of  one  woman,  the  happiness  of  one  man,  when 
their  loss  ensures  the  triumph  of  religion  ?  Well,  no!  these 
4fe  sophisms  with  which  I  vainly  try  to  lull  my  conscience. 
Religion  is  not  in  this  game — I  am  playing  it  for  my  ambi- 
tion solely."  He  laughed  more  like  one  of  the  drolls  oi 
an  Italian  comedy  than  the  great  pontiffs  whom  he  had 
mentioned.  " Basta!  who  cares?  Has  not  the  Holy  Father 
power  to  absolve  all  crimes  ?  When  I  am  Pope,  I  shall  clear 
myself." 

He  had  barely  expressed  this  ironical  jest  when  a  violent 
surprise  was  manifested  upon  his  features. 

"What  is  that  i"  he  muttered,  half  rising  in  his  chair,  am. 
extending  his  neck  as  he  listened. 

"I  can't  be  mistaken,"  he  said  with  growing  astonish- 
•nent.  "Some  one  is  in  the  underground  passage."  He  rose 
fully.  "Tush!  no  doubt  it  is  Boislaurier — it  can  be  nobody 
else: but  what  can  he  want?  What  can  have  happened  so 
important  that  he  comes  after  me  1" 

He  went  to  a  door  so  artfully  secreted  in  the  woodwork 
that  the  most  expert  eye  could  not  have  espied  it.  He  touched/ 
a  brass  knob  concealed  among  the  ornaments  with  the  same 
care.  A  spring  worked,  the  panel  opened,and,  master  of  him- 
lelf  as  was  Aramis,  he  could  not  help  exclaiming  in  affright, 

In  the  square  opening,  pale,  solemn  and  threatening,  ap- 
peared with  a  drawn  sword,  smeared  with  fresh  blood,  the 
Son  of  Porthos  ! 

Almada  receded  to  the  table.  This  apparition  was  the 
one  he  least  expected:  it  scattered  his  plans  like  the  bombs 
Friquet's  gunners  had  flung  into  Freiburg.  But  the  former 
Musketeer  was  not  to  be  discomfited  so  easily.  Had  a  bomb- 
shell really  fallen  at  his  feet,  he  would  have  plucked  out 
the  lighted  fuse.  His  first  feeling  was  of  surprise,  but  it 
lasted  only  a  moment,and  this  redoubtable  wrestler  quickly 
recalled  his  wits  and  collected  his  powers. 

"Chevalier,  how  came  you  here  ?  you  have  a  post  in  th( 
army — desertion  is  a  grave  offense." 

"Sir,"  replied  the  Breton  with  terrible  calm,  "I  havenotk, 
ing  to  do  with  the  army — Freiburg  is  taken — by  me  !  \ 
bring  Marshal  Cr6quy's  report  attesting  that,  in  my 


2fo  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  OR, 

But  that  is  not  our  business.  You  want  to  know  how  it  is  that 
I  come  upon  you  by  the  secret  stairs?  I  have  no  time  to  go 
into  particulars.  Suffice  it  that  Boislaurier  is  dead — so  is 
your  chief  of  cut-throats,  Condor  Cordbuff — executions 
which  I  will  account  for  to  those  who  have  the  right  to  ques. 
tion  me  on  the  point.  Now  it  is  for  us  to  settle  accounts." 

The  ambassador  remained  cool,  like  the  wild  beast  in 
his  lair,  who  watches  with  apparently  indifferent  eye  the 
movements  of  the  hunter  : 

"Ha!"  he  haughtily  said,  "Have  we  an  account  to  settle?  I 
leave  such  matters  to  my  servants.  This  is  neither  the  time 
nor  the  place  for  such  trifles.  This  is  the  King's  home  ?  Do 
you  not  know  that  ?" 

"To  be  sure  I  do,  since  I  come  here  to  regain  my  wife." 

"Your  wife  ?" 

Toel  stretched  out  his  unweaponed  hand. 

'My  wife  who  lies  there,  on  the  couch  of  which  you  have 
not  even  drawn  the  curtains,  so  surely  did  my  visit  deprive 
you  of  prudence  and  precaution.  You  put  her  to  sleep  with 
a  potion — so  that  she  should  not  know  of  what  crime  yo\i 
would  be  guilty — a  potion  such  as  you  finger  there  " 

Aramis  so  felt  the  necessity  of  strengthening  his  nerves  ths* 
he  had  indeed  drawn  his  elixir  from  its  nesting-place. 

"Mdme.  de  Locmaria  is  dead,"  said  the  old  man  drily. 

The  other  laughed  menacingly  in  his  face. 

"If  I  believed  that,  you  would  already  be  in  the  lower  re- 
gion with  your  myrmidons.  But  your  greed  is  my  insurance 
—the  King  will  not  pay  you  for  a  dead  body." 

"What,  do  you  know  ?"  and  Aramis  blushed  slightly. 

"I  know  that  you  found  me  that  wife  in  order  that  I  should 
be  the  mate  of  the  King's  favorite!  that  you  sent  me  to  Frei- 
burg in  the  hope  that  I  should  never  return — that  the  Ger- 
man bullets  were  hoped  to  do  the  work  in  which  your  sec- 
retaries failed " 

"  Young  man,"  returned  the  ambassador,  shaking  his  bold 
head.  "  if  you  knew  so  much,  you  should  have  had  the  wit 
to  be  silent.  Do  you  think  that  I  am  going  lightly  to  re- 
nounce the  prospective  gains  of  what  you  term  my  infamy  ? 
let  us  share,  or  I  take  all  !  Come,  my  boy,"  went  on  the  pre- 
late, assuming  the  most  unctuously  paternal  tone,  "reflect 
that  the  highest  state  reasons  constrain  me  to  play  this  part : 
the  sacrifice  I  require  is  necessary  to  political  combinations 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  ARAMIS.  28 1 

*• 

which  concern  the  peace  of  the  world.  You  are  a  lad  of 
wit,  who  must  understand  and  without  plain  speech  :  sheath 
your  rapier,  cease  to  roll  your  furious  eyes,  and  get  you 
gone " 

"  I  go  with  my  wife." 

"Oho!"  snarled  the  duke,  his  eye  blazing  with  choler  and 
the  effects  of  the  cordial  which  he  had  sipped  :  "  You  are 
wearying  my  patience.  Yet  I  do  not  wish  you  harm,  Away — 
or  I  shall  kill  you." 

"  Who  have  you  to  help,  old  man  ?"  You  forget  that  1 
have  swept  the  earth  clear  of  your  scoundrels.  You  are 
nearer  the  grave  than  I." 

Aurore  made  a  movement,  and  Joel  took  a  step  towards 
her.  But  Aramis,  who  had  drawn  his  courtsword,  sprang 
in  between  with  the  factitious  activity  of  the  elixir : 

'*  With  that  toothpick  do  you  talk  of  killing  me  ?" 

"  Defend  her,  and  yourself  !" 

Joel  thought  that  he  might  soon  dispose  of  an  adversary 
of  this  age,  and  he  did  not  lose  time  in"trying"  him,  but  almost 
at  once  delivered  a  straight  thrust,  rapid  and  flashing  as  a 
lightning  stroke.  The  lunge  was  parried  with  a  strength, 
ease  and  agility  the  Breton  had  not  expected  to  meet  in  that 
trail  body.  So  were  met  the  others  he  gave,  and  however 
fleetly  this  long  blade  described  circles,  the  thin  feil  followed 
it  closely  as  the  magnet  the  iron,  twisting  and  hissing  like  a 
viper.  The  young  man  comprehended  that  he  was  pitted 
against  a  fencer  of  the  first  class,  and  that  caused  him  to 
moderate  his  mode.  Aramis  plied  the  steel  with  a  vivacity 
akin  to  that  he  must  have  displayed  in  his  youth.  It  was 
in  vain  that  the  soldier  multiplied  his  attacks  :  he  found  no 
weariness  in  this  antagonist.  His  wrist  seemed  of  steel 
while  the  other,  fatigued  by  his  long  rides,  his  fall,  tho 
events  of  the  day  and  his  conflict  in  the  subterranean  with  the 
duke's  bravoes,  became  daunted  by  his  inferiority.  The  blood 
lew  to  his  head,  and  his  arm  lost  its  usual  vigor  and  liveli- 
ness. 

At  this  moment,  Aurore  gave  a  sigh.  The  Breton  heard 
it  and  it  was  the  signal  for  a  truce.  Joel  looked  at  his  wife, 
while  the  old  duke  again  sipped  at  the  phial,  doubling  the 
dose.  When  he  resumed  the  action,  it  was  he  who  attacked/ 
and  with  a  fire  which  astounded  the  adversary. 

'You  are  caught,  my  fighting-cock,"  said  he,  with  a  sini* 


Sl3  THE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  ORt 

ter  smile,  "and  I  shall  serve  you  out  with  the  favante 
thrust  of  my  frind  Porthos " 

By  a  strange  coincidence,  the  same  way  of  ending  the  con- 
flict had  occurred  to  both  swordsmen.  As  a  consequence, 
the  swords  glided  along  one  another  to  the  hilts,  where  the 
slighter  blade  snapped  off  short.  But  the  defenceless  state 
of  Aramis  did  not  matter  at  this  juncture,  for  the  name  had 
caused  Joel  to  utter  an  exclamation: 

"Porthos — he  was  my  father!" 

"Your  father?  Then  I  was  his  friend — I  am  Aramis! 

The  old  man  recoiled  and  flung  down  the  stump  of  his 
sword.  Before  him  he  thought  he  saw,  as  the  false  life  and 
warmth  of  the  elixir  faded  away,  the  phantom  of  the  friend 
of  his  youth — the  Porthos  with  simple  grandeur  of  soul,  and 
real  superiority  of  heart — more  mighty  than  splendor  of 
mind.  Sublime  in  vigor,  courage  and  disinterestedness- 
smiling,  open,  unconquerable — the  strongest  of  the  Four 
Companions,  and  yet  the  first  to  die;  to  die,  because  he  the 
Chevalier  d'  Herbly,  had  drawn  him,  innocently  and  unwit- 
tingly, into  the  tragical  adventure.of  the  Chateau  of  Vaux. 

At  last,  his  gigantic  shade  had  come  out  of  the  tomb,  and 
with  it  was  ranged  the  spirits  of  Athos  and  d'Artagnan. 
They  seemed  to  adopt  their  old  friend's  son,  and  stood 
ready  to  defend  him.  But  there  was  no  cause  for  them  to 
Stand  between.  After  the  flame  which  had  coursed  through 
the  old  man's  veins  and  made  him  lose  the  weight  of  eighty 
years,  a  chilliness  had  crept  over  him.  But  in  an  instant, 
wherever  the  dangerous  liquid  had  mingled  with  the  blood, 
all  the  channels  ached  and  seemed  to  be  consumed. 

"I  am  deceived,"  he  muttered,  staggering  to  the  nearesf 
chair  and  leaving  the  way  clear  to  Joel  who  bounded  over 
the  rail  to  his  wife's  side.  "  The  liquor  of  long  life  is 
ephemeral  and  I  have  but  hastened  my  death.  Oh,  I  so 
wished  to  live — to  reign — to  have  all  the  world  for  one,  and 
that  one— I " 

When  Joel,  carrying  his  wife  in  his  arms  with  her  heart 
again  beating  in  unison  with  his  own,  passed  the  old  man. 
he  saw  but  a  bent,  gathered-up  form  in  the  chair.  Aramis 
had  died,  without  consciousness  that  he  was,  an  accom- 
plished courtier,  committing  the  unpardonable  sin,  '"* 
thrusting  deat^  beJD»e  the  eyes  of  a  king. 


CONCLUSION. 

A  fortnight  later,  on  the  deck  of  a  sailing  vessel  crossing 
from  Croisic  to  Bell-Islle,  some  of  our  characters  would 
have  been  seen  again. 

With  an  emotion  which  thrilled  every  fibre,  our  hero  saw 
once  more  the  sombre  girdle  of  rocks  rise  on  the  sea-line 
where  his  infancy  had  past.  His  young  wife,  lovelier  than 
ever,  leaned  against  him  and  watched  him  smile  again  as  he 
heard  the  grumblings  of  Friquet  to  Sergeant  Bonaventure. 

"Our  prince  is  a  curmudgeon:  not  a  bit  of  ribbon,  medal 
or  gold  lace — not  a  coin  with  which  to  drink  his  health. 
Death  of  my  life !  what  a  joke  it  is  to  call  him  Louis  the 
Great  who  is  anything  but  tall." 

The  rising  sun  gilded  the  boat  as  it  ran  into  the  port  of 
Locmaria  under  full  sail.  A  cannon  shot  from  the  fort  salut- 
ed the  arrival.  Instantly  the  drums  beat  in  the  castle,  and 
the  beils  in  the  parish  were  set  ringing.  When  they  disem- 
barked, they  found  the  garrison  ranged  in  battle  array  on 
the  strand;  the  soldiers  had  bunches  of  flowers  in  their  mus- 
kets, and  streamers  of  ribbons  to  their  halberds.  Behind 
them  were  all  the  inhabitants  in  their  best  clothes,  the 
women  and  children  carrying  flowers  by  the  armsful.  The 
wen  waved  hats  and  caps,  and  all  vociferated: 

*'  Long  live  the  count !  long  live  my  lady  !  long  live  our 
new  lord  !" 

"A  deucedly  civilized  country,"  said  Friquet,  "just  look, 
sergeant,  how  the  pretty  girls  perk  up  as  we  come  along." 

An  officer  came  up,  hat  in  hand. 

"  May  I  ask  for  M.  Joel  of  Locmaria  ?" 

"It  is  I,"  responded  our  hero,  with  the  same  civility. 

Drawing  his  sword,  the  officer  made  a  sign  with  it,  on 
which  the  drums  beat,  the  soldiers  presented  arms  and  the 
principal  inhabitants  advanced  with  bows. 

"  Welcome  to  the  Count  of  Locmaria,  Governor  and 
Lord  of  the  Manor  of  Locmaria  !"  was  the  universal  shout. 

There  was  news  for  Friquet  at  the  Townhall  to  which  the 
new-comers  were  escorted.  He  was  appointed  commander 
of  the  fleet  of  bomb-ketches  to  be  sent  to  ruin  Algiers; 
Bonlaron  was  named  lieutenant  in  the  same  expedition. 


fHE  SON  OF  PORTHOS;  O*. 

the  other  documents,  confirming  the  boons  of  tht 
generous  King — not  to  call  his  act  of  reparation — was  alettei 
•from  Widow  Scarron.  It  announced  that  she  had  been  the 
bearer  of  the  order  to  the  Marchioness  of  Montespan  that  she 
must  confine  herself  to  a  nunnery.  Her  place  was  taken  by 
the  governess,  to  whom  Louis  gave  a  large  sum  to  buy  the 
marquisate  of  Maintenon,  and  support  her  in  that  title. 

u  I  shall  start  soon  to  take  command  of  my  fleet,"  said  tht 
Little  Parisian,  an  inch  taller  as  the  Admiral  of  the  Bombar- 
diers Navy. 

"And  I  am  with  you,"jsaid  Bonaventure,  who  had  renewed 
his  liking  for  the  soldier's  life. 

"  I  shall  stay  here,"  said  Joel,  turning  towards  his  wif«>, 
•^beside  my  father's  grave  " 

44 And  the  home  of  our  children,"  added  Aurora  blushinjh 


TSK  KNfe 


THE  COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO 

Blacksmithinjr,  Horseshoeing, 

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THtGDrtPLETE. 


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Z£  ?? 

\   LIFE  OF  GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 

By  George  Washington  Parke  Custis,  the  adopted  son    £ 
of  our  first  president.      Cloth,  664  pages,   large,  12mo*    4 
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*  LIFE  OF  U.  S.  GRANT. 

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*  594  pages,  large,  12mo.    Price,  $1.00. 
{   LIFE  OF  WILLIAM  McKINLEY. 

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(•    LIFE  OF  THEODORE  ROOSEVELT. 

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\    LIFE  OF  HENRY  M.  STANLEY. 

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{    LIFE  OF  JOHN  PAUL  JONES. 

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^    LIFE  OF  ETHAN  ALLEN. 

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\   LIFE  OF  P.  T.  BARNUM. 

By  Hon.  Joel  Benton.     Cloth,  621  pages,  large,  12mo.    j£ 
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t   LIFE  OF  T.  DEWITT  TALMAGE. 

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$  By   Charles   Francis   Adams.    Cloth,   318   pages,   large,    X 

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Comic  Readings  and 
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The  American  Star  Speaker 
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By  CHARLES  WALTER  BROWN 

Many  Speakers  are  advertised  to  be  the  best, 
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